diff --git a/type/__borg_repo/gencode-remote b/type/__borg_repo/gencode-remote
index 542bf5f..f4580ef 100644
--- a/type/__borg_repo/gencode-remote
+++ b/type/__borg_repo/gencode-remote
@@ -27,10 +27,15 @@ then
 	appendonly='--append-only'
 fi
 
+if [ -f "${__object:?}/parameter/owner" ];
+then
+	doas="sudo -u '$(cat "${__object:?}/parameter/owner")'"
+fi
+
 cat <<- EOF
-	if ! borg check --repository-only 1>&2 2>/dev/null "/${__object_id:?}";
-	then
-		BORG_NEW_PASSPHRASE=$passphrase borg init -e ${enc:?} $appendonly /${__object_id:?}
+	set -x
+	if [ ! -d "/${__object_id:?}" ]; then
+		$doas BORG_NEW_PASSPHRASE=$passphrase borg init -e ${enc:?} $appendonly /${__object_id:?}
 	fi
 EOF
 
diff --git a/type/__borg_repo/man.rst b/type/__borg_repo/man.rst
index 38ab0c9..dce3660 100644
--- a/type/__borg_repo/man.rst
+++ b/type/__borg_repo/man.rst
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 passphrase
   The passphrase to encrypt the keyfile with.
 
+owner
+  Remote user owning the repository.
+
 BOOLEAN PARAMETERS
 ------------------
 append-only
diff --git a/type/__borg_repo/manifest b/type/__borg_repo/manifest
index fe18c9c..968066d 100644
--- a/type/__borg_repo/manifest
+++ b/type/__borg_repo/manifest
@@ -12,3 +12,8 @@ case "$os" in
 esac
 
 __package "$borg_package"
+
+if [ -f "${__object:?}/parameter/owner" ];
+then
+	__package sudo
+fi
diff --git a/type/__borg_repo/parameter/optional b/type/__borg_repo/parameter/optional
index f63b25b..8e1ddfd 100644
--- a/type/__borg_repo/parameter/optional
+++ b/type/__borg_repo/parameter/optional
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 passphrase
+owner