diff --git a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
index c8f1c1d40..49270ae9e 100755
--- a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
+++ b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/functions
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ validate_nginx() {
 restart_nginx() {
   case "$DOKKU_DISTRO" in
     debian)
-      /usr/sbin/invoke-rc.d nginx reload > /dev/null
+      sudo /usr/sbin/invoke-rc.d nginx reload > /dev/null
       ;;
 
     ubuntu)