diff --git a/sbin/route/route.c b/sbin/route/route.c
index 7cdd7ce63bcd..452cf87eab87 100644
--- a/sbin/route/route.c
+++ b/sbin/route/route.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ flushroutes(argc, argv)
 	char *buf, *next, *lim;
 	struct rt_msghdr *rtm;
 
-	if (uid) {
+	if (uid && !debugonly) {
 		errx(EX_NOPERM, "must be root to alter routing table");
 	}
 	shutdown(s, 0); /* Don't want to read back our messages */