diff --git a/platform/vcs-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vcs/ReadonlyStatusIsVisibleActivationCheck.java b/platform/vcs-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vcs/ReadonlyStatusIsVisibleActivationCheck.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fca9c4a5e08a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platform/vcs-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vcs/ReadonlyStatusIsVisibleActivationCheck.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package com.intellij.openapi.vcs;
+
+import com.intellij.notification.Notification;
+import com.intellij.notification.NotificationType;
+import com.intellij.notification.Notifications;
+import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationNamesInfo;
+import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
+import com.intellij.openapi.util.SystemInfo;
+
+/**
+ * @author irengrig
+ *         Date: 5/20/11
+ *         Time: 12:33 PM
+ */
+public class ReadonlyStatusIsVisibleActivationCheck {
+  public static void check(final Project project, final String vcsName) {
+    if (SystemInfo.isUnix && "root".equals(System.getenv("USER"))) {
+      Notifications.Bus.notify(new Notification(vcsName, vcsName + ": can not see read-only status",
+          "You are logged as <b>root</b>, that's why:<br><br>- " + ApplicationNamesInfo.getInstance().getFullProductName() + " can not see read-only status of files.<br>" +
+          "- All files are treated as writeable.<br>- Automatic file checkout on modification is impossible.", NotificationType.WARNING), project);
+    }
+  }
+}