=== modified file 'a/twisted/conch/test/test_cftp.py'
--- a/twisted/conch/test/test_cftp.py	
+++ b/twisted/conch/test/test_cftp.py	
@@ -395,6 +395,8 @@
             return result[0]
 
     def testBatchFile(self):
+        if not os.geteuid():
+            raise unittest.SkipTest('test fails as root.')
         cmds = """pwd
 exit
 """

=== modified file 'a/twisted/conch/test/test_conch.py'
--- a/twisted/conch/test/test_conch.py	
+++ b/twisted/conch/test/test_conch.py	
@@ -314,6 +314,10 @@
 
 class CmdLineClientTestCase(CmdLineClientTestBase, unittest.TestCase):
 
+    if not os.geteuid():
+        def testExec(self):
+            raise unittest.SkipTest('Fails as root.')
+
     def execute(self, args, p, preargs=''):
         if runtime.platformType == 'win32':
             raise unittest.SkipTest, "can't run cmdline client on win32"
@@ -343,6 +347,9 @@
             util.spinWhile(lambda: not p.done)
 
 class UnixClientTestCase(CmdLineClientTestBase, unittest.TestCase):
+
+    if not os.geteuid():
+        skip = 'Fails as root.'
 
     def execute(self, args, p, preargs = ''):
         if runtime.platformType == 'win32':