diff --git a/test/others/rpc/Makefile b/test/others/rpc/Makefile
index bf2a2d262..5b383cfb8 100644
--- a/test/others/rpc/Makefile
+++ b/test/others/rpc/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ LDLIBS +=  -lprotobuf-c
 run: all
 	mkdir -p build
 	chmod a+rwx build
+	@# need to start the criu daemon here to access the pidfile
+	sudo -g '#1000' -u '#1000' ./criu service -v4 -W build -o service.log --address criu_service.socket -d --pidfile pidfile
+	chmod a+rw build/pidfile
 	sudo -g '#1000' -u '#1000' ./run.sh
+	sudo -g '#1000' -u '#1000' ./version.py
 
 criu: ../../../criu/criu
 	cp ../../../criu/criu $@
diff --git a/test/others/rpc/run.sh b/test/others/rpc/run.sh
index ed99addb2..aaf48f4ad 100755
--- a/test/others/rpc/run.sh
+++ b/test/others/rpc/run.sh
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@ function title_print {
 
 }
 
-function start_server {
-	title_print "Start service server"
-	${CRIU} service -v4 -W build -o service.log --address criu_service.socket -d --pidfile pidfile
-}
-
 function stop_server {
 	title_print "Shutdown service server"
 	kill -SIGTERM $(cat build/pidfile)
@@ -78,8 +73,6 @@ function test_errno {
 
 trap 'echo "FAIL"; stop_server' EXIT
 
-start_server
-
 test_c
 test_py
 test_restore_loop