diff --git a/contrib/debian/rules b/contrib/debian/rules
--- a/contrib/debian/rules
+++ b/contrib/debian/rules
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 	python$(PYVERS) setup.py clean --all --component remotefilelog,githelp,backups,absorb,morestatus,nointerrupt,sigtrace,chistedit
 
 override_dh_auto_install:
-	python$(PYVERS) setup.py install --root $(CURDIR)/debian/remotefilelog --install-layout=deb --component remotefilelog,githelp,backups,absorb,morestatus,nointerrupt,sigtrace,chistedit
+	USERUST=0 python$(PYVERS) setup.py install --root $(CURDIR)/debian/remotefilelog --install-layout=deb --component remotefilelog,githelp,backups,absorb,morestatus,nointerrupt,sigtrace,chistedit
 	find $(CURDIR)/debian/remotefilelog -name '*.egg-info' -delete
 	# Explicitly remove the hgext3rd/__init__.py file from the place where we're
 	# staging the files for build.  Mercurial provides