diff --git a/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-redis b/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-redis
index 10ea8bde6..dbd1e796f 100755
--- a/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-redis
+++ b/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-redis
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ cd $(dirname "$0")/../..
 ghe_remote_version_required "$GHE_HOSTNAME"
 
 # Force a redis BGSAVE, and wait for it to complete.
+sudo=
+[ "$GHE_VERSION_MAJOR" -ge 2 ] && sudo="sudo"
 ghe-ssh "$GHE_HOSTNAME" /bin/sh <<EOF
     set -e
     timestamp=\$(redis-cli LASTSAVE)
@@ -23,5 +25,5 @@ ghe-ssh "$GHE_HOSTNAME" /bin/sh <<EOF
     while [ \$(redis-cli LASTSAVE) -eq \$timestamp ]; do
         sleep 1
     done
-    cat '$GHE_REMOTE_DATA_USER_DIR/redis/dump.rdb'
+    $sudo cat '$GHE_REMOTE_DATA_USER_DIR/redis/dump.rdb'
 EOF
diff --git a/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-settings b/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-settings
index 87c9c1d76..4d618c12a 100755
--- a/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-settings
+++ b/share/github-backup-utils/ghe-backup-settings
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ echo "* Transferring settings data ..." 1>&3
 ghe-ssh "$host" -- 'ghe-export-settings' > settings.json
 
 echo "* Transferring license data ..." 1>&3
-ghe-ssh "$host" -- "cat '$GHE_REMOTE_LICENSE_FILE'" > enterprise.ghl
+comm="cat '$GHE_REMOTE_LICENSE_FILE'"
+[ "$GHE_VERSION_MAJOR" -ge 2 ] && comm="sudo $comm"
+ghe-ssh "$host" -- "$comm" > enterprise.ghl
 
 if [ "$GHE_VERSION_MAJOR" -ge 2 ]; then
     echo "* Transferring management console password ..." 1>&3