diff --git a/phase2_teardown.sh b/phase2_teardown.sh
index eb7c229..2c5eee4 100755
--- a/phase2_teardown.sh
+++ b/phase2_teardown.sh
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ if [[ -n "$running_container" ]]; then
   log_warn "Stop the container first, then re-run teardown to remove data."
 elif ssh_exec FEDORA "test -d '${DATA_PATH}'" 2>/dev/null; then
   if confirm_action "$(printf 'Remove ALL Gitea data at %s on Fedora? This is IRREVERSIBLE. [y/N] ' "$DATA_PATH")"; then
-    if ssh_exec FEDORA "rm -rf '${DATA_PATH}'"; then
+    if ssh_exec FEDORA "sudo rm -rf '${DATA_PATH}'"; then
       log_success "All Gitea data removed from Fedora"
     else
       log_error "Failed to remove data directory ${DATA_PATH}"