diff -r 6c9f23477328 -r 026265f1ae95 src/main.reef
--- a/src/main.reef	Sun Jul 05 17:04:52 2026 -0500
+++ b/src/main.reef	Sun Jul 05 17:09:01 2026 -0500
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 import commands.ports as cmd_ports
 import commands.verify as cmd_verify
 import util.color
+import util.priv
 
 fn version(): string
     return "0.4.2"
@@ -153,20 +154,6 @@
     return opts
 end parse_global_options
 
-// Check if we are running as root (UID 0)
-// Uses file test to check write permission on system directory
-fn is_root(): bool
-    // Try to create a temp file in /var/lib/coral - only root can write there
-    let test_file = "/var/lib/coral/.root_check"
-    if file.writeFile(test_file, "1")
-        // Successfully wrote - we have root-level access
-        // File will be overwritten next time, no need to delete
-        return true
-    end if
-    return false
-end is_root
-
-
 // Check if a command is a query command (doesn't require root)
 fn is_query_command(cmd: string): bool
     // Query commands that don't modify the system
@@ -233,7 +220,7 @@
 
     // Check for root privileges if required
     if not is_query_command(cmd)
-        if not is_root()
+        if not priv.is_root()
             color.print_error("This command requires root privileges")
             println("Run 'coral " + cmd + "' as root or with sudo")
             return ec.EXIT_ROOT_REQUIRED()
diff -r 6c9f23477328 -r 026265f1ae95 src/util/priv.reef
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/util/priv.reef	Sun Jul 05 17:09:01 2026 -0500
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/******************************************************************************
+               __               ____                __
+              / /   ___  ____ _/ __/_____________ _/ /__
+             / /   / _ \/ __ `/ /_/ ___/ ___/ __ `/ / _ \
+            / /___/  __/ /_/ / __(__  ) /__/ /_/ / /  __/
+           /_____/\___/\__,_/_/ /____/\___/\__,_/_/\___/
+
+   (C)opyright 2025, Leafscale, LLC -  https://www.leafscale.com
+
+   Project: Zygaena
+  Filename: priv.reef
+   Authors: Chris Tusa <chris.tusa@leafscale.com>
+   License: <see LICENSE file included with this source code>
+Description: Privilege detection helpers
+
+******************************************************************************/
+
+module util.priv
+
+import io.file
+
+export
+    // Check if we are running as root (UID 0)
+    fn is_root(): bool
+end export
+
+// Check if we are running as root (UID 0)
+// Uses file test to check write permission on system directory
+fn is_root(): bool
+    // Try to create a temp file in /var/lib/coral - only root can write there
+    let test_file = "/var/lib/coral/.root_check"
+    if file.writeFile(test_file, "1")
+        // Successfully wrote - we have root-level access
+        // File will be overwritten next time, no need to delete
+        return true
+    end if
+    return false
+end is_root
+
+end module