diff --git a/commands/service/parse.c b/commands/service/parse.c
index 1c5a1ba07..82488e723 100644
--- a/commands/service/parse.c
+++ b/commands/service/parse.c
@@ -138,11 +138,17 @@ PRIVATE void do_uid(config_t *cpe, struct rs_start *rs_start)
 		uid= pw->pw_uid;
 	else
 	{
-		uid= strtol(cpe->word, &check, 0);
-		if (check[0] != '\0')
+		if (!strncmp(cpe->word, KW_SELF, strlen(KW_SELF)+1))
 		{
-			fatal("do_uid: bad uid/login '%s' at %s:%d",
-				cpe->word, cpe->file, cpe->line);
+			uid= getuid();	/* Real uid */
+		}
+		else {
+			uid= strtol(cpe->word, &check, 0);
+			if (check[0] != '\0')
+			{
+				fatal("do_uid: bad uid/login '%s' at %s:%d",
+					cpe->word, cpe->file, cpe->line);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/commands/service/parse.h b/commands/service/parse.h
index 08487b628..02fc0350f 100644
--- a/commands/service/parse.h
+++ b/commands/service/parse.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #define KW_SERVICE	"service"
 #define KW_UID		"uid"
+#define KW_SELF		"SELF"
 #define KW_SIGMGR	"sigmgr"
 #define KW_SCHEDULER	"scheduler"
 #define KW_PRIORITY	"priority"
diff --git a/man/man5/system.conf.5 b/man/man5/system.conf.5
index ddf6aeeae..111b21ea8 100644
--- a/man/man5/system.conf.5
+++ b/man/man5/system.conf.5
@@ -42,10 +42,12 @@ where \fI<program_name>\fR is the name of the program used to start the
 given system service. In each service entry, the following options can
 be used:
 .PP
-\fBuid\fR \fI<uid|user name>\fR\fB;\fR
+\fBuid\fR \fI<uid|SELF|user name>\fR\fB;\fR
 .PP
 .RS
 specifies the user id or the user name to use to run the system service.
+\fISELF\fR can be used when the service has to start with the realuid of
+the user who's executing the \fBservice\fR utility.
 Many system services run with root privileges (uid \fB0\fR).
 The default user is service (uid \fB12\fR).
 .RE