diff --git a/compose/service/automation_trigger.go b/compose/service/automation_trigger.go
index 68ef09037..f9d92cbe0 100644
--- a/compose/service/automation_trigger.go
+++ b/compose/service/automation_trigger.go
@@ -129,6 +129,13 @@ func (svc automationTrigger) isValid(ctx context.Context, s *automation.Script,
 				return errors.WithStack(ErrNoTriggerManagementPermissions)
 			}
 		}
+
+	case "interval",
+		"deferred":
+		if s.RunAs == 0 {
+			return errors.WithStack(automation.ErrAutomationScriptMissingUser)
+		}
+
 	default:
 		return errors.WithStack(automation.ErrAutomationTriggerInvalidEvent)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/automation/script.go b/pkg/automation/script.go
index f55f348f4..0ed5ff9b8 100644
--- a/pkg/automation/script.go
+++ b/pkg/automation/script.go
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ const (
 )
 
 var (
-	ErrAutomationScriptInvalid = errors.New("AutomationScriptInvalid")
+	ErrAutomationScriptInvalid     = errors.New("AutomationScriptInvalid")
+	ErrAutomationScriptMissingUser = errors.New("AutomationScriptMissingUser")
 )
 
 // IsValid - enabled, deleted?