diff --git a/drivers/scsi/3w-xxxx.c b/drivers/scsi/3w-xxxx.c
index 33261b690774..f6179e3d6953 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/3w-xxxx.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/3w-xxxx.c
@@ -1033,6 +1033,9 @@ static int tw_chrdev_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 
 	dprintk(KERN_WARNING "3w-xxxx: tw_ioctl_open()\n");
 
+	if (!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
+		return -EACCES;
+
 	minor_number = iminor(inode);
 	if (minor_number >= tw_device_extension_count)
 		return -ENODEV;