diff --git a/make/defs-dist.mk b/make/defs-dist.mk
index e8d07b03..2b47afc7 100644
--- a/make/defs-dist.mk
+++ b/make/defs-dist.mk
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ CGIMODE                     ?= $(EXEMODE)
 CGIDIROWNER                 ?= $(EXEDIROWNER)
 CGIDIRGROUP                 ?= $(EXEDIRGROUP)
 CGIDIRMODE                  ?= $(EXEDIRMODE)
-HTMLOWNER                   ?= wwwrun
+HTMLOWNER                   ?= root
 HTMLGROUP                   ?= www
 HTMLMODE                    ?= 644
 HTMLDIROWNER                ?= wwwrun