diff --git a/kernel/sysctl.c b/kernel/sysctl.c
index 1b255df..c904748 100644
--- a/kernel/sysctl.c
+++ b/kernel/sysctl.c
@@ -1676,7 +1676,7 @@
 {
 	int op;
 
-	if (!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
+	if (write && !capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
 		return -EPERM;
 
 	op = OP_OR;