diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_debian.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_debian.yaml
index 7ab28ff7ca..0b157dfae1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_debian.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_debian.yaml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Build deb package
               run: |
                   VERSION=$(cat package.json | jq -r .version)
-                  chmod -R u=rw,go=r debian/tmp/usr/share/element-web/
+                  sudo chmod -R u=rw,go=r debian/tmp/usr/share/element-web/
                   dpkg-gencontrol -v"$VERSION" -ldebian/tmp/DEBIAN/changelog
                   dpkg-deb -Zxz --root-owner-group --build debian/tmp element-web.deb