diff --git a/README b/README
index 2f39e2d..e7963ff 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ NOTES
               Set $_Z_NO_PROMPT_COMMAND to handle PROMPT_COMMAND/precmd  your-
               self.
               Set $_Z_EXCLUDE_DIRS to an array of directories to exclude.
+              Set $_Z_OWNER to allow usage when in 'sudo -s' mode.
               (These  settings  should  go  in  .bashrc/.zshrc before the line
               added above.)
               Install   the   provided   man   page   z.1    somewhere    like
@@ -123,9 +124,12 @@ ENVIRONMENT
        directories to exclude from tracking. $HOME is always excluded.  Direc-
        tories must be full paths without trailing slashes.
 
+       The  environment  variable  $_Z_OWNER  can  be set to your username, to
+       allow usage of z when your sudo enviroment keeps $HOME set.
+
 FILES
-       Data  is  stored  in  $HOME/.z.  This  can be overridden by setting the
-       $_Z_DATA environment variable. When initialized, z will raise an  error
+       Data is stored in $HOME/.z. This  can  be  overridden  by  setting  the
+       $_Z_DATA  environment variable. When initialized, z will raise an error
        if this path is a directory, and not function correctly.
 
        A man page (z.1) is provided.
diff --git a/z.1 b/z.1
index a3ce2b7..5cbf20d 100644
--- a/z.1
+++ b/z.1
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ Set \fB$_Z_NO_PROMPT_COMMAND\fR to handle \fBPROMPT_COMMAND/precmd\fR yourself.
 Set \fB$_Z_EXCLUDE_DIRS\fR to an array of directories to exclude.
 .RE
 .RS
+Set \fB$_Z_OWNER\fR to allow usage when in 'sudo -s' mode.
+.RE
+.RS
 (These settings should go in .bashrc/.zshrc before the line added above.)
 .RE
 .RS
@@ -146,6 +149,9 @@ handle \fBPROMPT_COMMAND\fR or \fBprecmd\fR yourself.
 The environment variable \fB$_Z_EXCLUDE_DIRS\fR can be set to an array of
 directories to exclude from tracking. \fB$HOME\fR is always excluded.
 Directories must be full paths without trailing slashes.
+.P
+The environment variable \fB$_Z_OWNER\fR can be set to your username, to
+allow usage of \fBz\fR when your sudo enviroment keeps \fB$HOME\fR set.
 .SH
 FILES
 Data is stored in \fB$HOME/.z\fR. This can be overridden by setting the
diff --git a/z.sh b/z.sh
index 0285fb7..65e41b8 100644
--- a/z.sh
+++ b/z.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #         set $_Z_NO_RESOLVE_SYMLINKS to prevent symlink resolution.
 #         set $_Z_NO_PROMPT_COMMAND if you're handling PROMPT_COMMAND yourself.
 #         set $_Z_EXCLUDE_DIRS to an array of directories to exclude.
+#         set $_Z_OWNER to your username if you want use z while sudo with $HOME kept
 #
 # USE:
 #     * z foo     # cd to most frecent dir matching foo
@@ -30,8 +31,8 @@ _z() {
 
     local datafile="${_Z_DATA:-$HOME/.z}"
 
-    # bail if we don't own ~/.z (we're another user but our ENV is still set)
-    [ -f "$datafile" -a ! -O "$datafile" ] && return
+    # bail if we don't own ~/.z and $_Z_OWNER not set
+    [ -z "$_Z_OWNER" -a -f "$datafile" -a ! -O "$datafile" ] && return
 
     # add entries
     if [ "$1" = "--add" ]; then
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ _z() {
         if [ $? -ne 0 -a -f "$datafile" ]; then
             env rm -f "$tempfile"
         else
+	    [ -n "$_Z_OWNER" ] && chown $_Z_OWNER:$(id -ng $_Z_OWNER) "$tempfile"
             env mv -f "$tempfile" "$datafile" || env rm -f "$tempfile"
         fi