diff --git a/tools/aconfig/aconfig_device_paths/src/HostDeviceProtosTemplate.java b/tools/aconfig/aconfig_device_paths/src/HostDeviceProtosTemplate.java
index 844232b..e2ad40a 100644
--- a/tools/aconfig/aconfig_device_paths/src/HostDeviceProtosTemplate.java
+++ b/tools/aconfig/aconfig_device_paths/src/HostDeviceProtosTemplate.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 /**
  * A host lib that can read all aconfig proto file paths on a given device.
+ * This lib is only available on device with root access (userdebug/eng).
  */
 public class HostDeviceProtos {
     /**
@@ -40,7 +41,8 @@
     };
 
     private static final String APEX_DIR = "/apex";
-    private static final String RECURSIVELY_LIST_APEX_DIR_COMMAND = "shell find /apex | grep aconfig_flags";
+    private static final String RECURSIVELY_LIST_APEX_DIR_COMMAND =
+        "shell su 0 find /apex | grep aconfig_flags";
     private static final String APEX_ACONFIG_PATH_SUFFIX = "/etc/aconfig_flags.pb";