diff --git a/testing/mozbase/mozdevice/mozdevice/adb_android.py b/testing/mozbase/mozdevice/mozdevice/adb_android.py
index 95fc90807d87..0fedf0f030d1 100644
--- a/testing/mozbase/mozdevice/mozdevice/adb_android.py
+++ b/testing/mozbase/mozdevice/mozdevice/adb_android.py
@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@ class ADBAndroid(ADBDevice):
                  * ADBError
         """
         try:
-            self.shell_output('svc power stayon true', timeout=timeout)
+            self.shell_output('svc power stayon true',
+                              timeout=timeout,
+                              root=True)
         except ADBError, e:
             # Executing this via adb shell errors, but not interactively.
             # Any other exitcode is a real error.