diff --git a/tests/client/torture_algorithms.c b/tests/client/torture_algorithms.c
index 0d50a621..605772c5 100644
--- a/tests/client/torture_algorithms.c
+++ b/tests/client/torture_algorithms.c
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 #include "libssh/libssh.h"
 #include "libssh/priv.h"
 
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
+
 static int sshd_setup(void **state)
 {
     torture_setup_sshd_server(state);
@@ -41,6 +45,14 @@ static int sshd_teardown(void **state) {
 static int session_setup(void **state) {
     struct torture_state *s = *state;
     int verbosity = torture_libssh_verbosity();
+    struct passwd *pwd;
+    int rc;
+
+    pwd = getpwnam("bob");
+    assert_non_null(pwd);
+
+    rc = setuid(pwd->pw_uid);
+    assert_return_code(rc, errno);
 
     ssh_init();
 
diff --git a/tests/client/torture_connect.c b/tests/client/torture_connect.c
index 662d0366..212fc6b1 100644
--- a/tests/client/torture_connect.c
+++ b/tests/client/torture_connect.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 #include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
 
 /* Should work until Apnic decides to assign it :) */
 #define BLACKHOLE "1.1.1.1"
@@ -49,6 +51,14 @@ static int session_setup(void **state)
 {
     struct torture_state *s = *state;
     int verbosity = torture_libssh_verbosity();
+    struct passwd *pwd;
+    int rc;
+
+    pwd = getpwnam("bob");
+    assert_non_null(pwd);
+
+    rc = setuid(pwd->pw_uid);
+    assert_return_code(rc, errno);
 
     s->ssh.session = ssh_new();
     assert_non_null(s->ssh.session);
diff --git a/tests/client/torture_forward.c b/tests/client/torture_forward.c
index 21a93be7..170fd340 100644
--- a/tests/client/torture_forward.c
+++ b/tests/client/torture_forward.c
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@
 #include "torture.h"
 #include <libssh/libssh.h>
 
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
+
 static int sshd_setup(void **state)
 {
     torture_setup_sshd_server(state);
@@ -40,6 +44,14 @@ static int sshd_teardown(void **state) {
 static int session_setup(void **state)
 {
     struct torture_state *s = *state;
+    struct passwd *pwd;
+    int rc;
+
+    pwd = getpwnam("bob");
+    assert_non_null(pwd);
+
+    rc = setuid(pwd->pw_uid);
+    assert_return_code(rc, errno);
 
     s->ssh.session = torture_ssh_session(TORTURE_SSH_SERVER,
                                          NULL,