diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 3d6fe6d1b..65091fb3b 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -195,6 +195,12 @@ parser.add_argument('--proxy', dest='proxyPort', type=int, default=None,
 parser.add_argument('--path', dest='baseDir',
                     type=str, default=os.getcwd(),
                     help='Directory in which to store posts')
+parser.add_argument('--chroot', dest='chrootDir',
+                    type=str, default=None,
+                    help='Chroot directory in which to run the system')
+parser.add_argument('--setuid', dest='setuid',
+                    type=str, default=None,
+                    help='Set directory permissions uid:gid')
 parser.add_argument('--ytdomain', dest='YTReplacementDomain',
                     type=str, default=None,
                     help='Domain used to replace youtube.com')
@@ -582,6 +588,29 @@ else:
     if os.path.isfile('debug'):
         debug = True
 
+if args.chrootDir:
+    # chroot to a directory
+    os.chdir(args.chrootDir)
+    os.chroot(args.chrootDir)
+    args.baseDir = ''
+    print('Changed root directory to ' + args.chrootDir)
+
+if args.setuid:
+    # set permissions for the directory within which this system will run
+    import pwd
+    import grp
+    if ':' in args.setuid:
+        setuid = args.setuid.split(':')[0]
+        setgid = args.setuid.split(':')[1]
+    else:
+        setuid = args.setuid
+        setgid = args.setuid
+    uid = pwd.getpwnam(setuid)
+    gid = grp.getgrnam(setgid)
+    os.setgid(gid)
+    os.setuid(uid)
+    print('Setting uid:gid to ' + setuid + ':' + setgid)
+
 if args.tests:
     runAllTests()
     sys.exit()