diff --git a/distrobox-export b/distrobox-export
index d67fee1c4c..a96f5fe6f5 100755
--- a/distrobox-export
+++ b/distrobox-export
@@ -217,10 +217,14 @@ if [ -z "${container_name}" ]; then
 fi
 
 #
-if [ "${is_sudo}" -ne 0 ]; then
-	start_shell="$(command -v sudo) -i"
+if  [ "${is_sudo}" -ne 0 ]; then
+	if command -v su-exec > /dev/null2 >&1; then
+		start_shell="su-exec root su - root -c"
+	elif command -v sudo > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+		start_shell="$(command -v sudo) -i"
+	fi
 else
-	start_shell="$(command -v sudo) -u ${USER} -i"
+	start_shell="/bin/sh -l -c"
 fi
 
 # Prefix to add to an existing command to work through the container