diff --git a/cli/kata-check.go b/cli/kata-check.go
index 47c3b02bd4..b709fc5289 100644
--- a/cli/kata-check.go
+++ b/cli/kata-check.go
@@ -134,17 +134,25 @@ func getCPUFlags(cpuinfo string) string {
 // haveKernelModule returns true if the specified module exists
 // (either loaded or available to be loaded)
 func haveKernelModule(module string) bool {
+	kmodLog := kataLog.WithField("module", module)
+
 	// First, check to see if the module is already loaded
 	path := filepath.Join(sysModuleDir, module)
 	if katautils.FileExists(path) {
 		return true
 	}
 
+	// Only root can load modules
+	if os.Getuid() != 0 {
+		kmodLog.Error("Module is not loaded and it can not be inserted. Please consider running with sudo or as root")
+		return false
+	}
+
 	// Now, check if the module is unloaded, but available.
 	// And modprobe it if so.
 	cmd := exec.Command(modProbeCmd, module)
 	if output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
-		kataLog.WithField("module", module).WithError(err).Warnf("modprobe insert module failed: %s", string(output))
+		kmodLog.WithError(err).WithField("output", string(output)).Warnf("modprobe insert module failed")
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
diff --git a/cli/kata-check_amd64_test.go b/cli/kata-check_amd64_test.go
index 23f4aa028f..d162efa187 100644
--- a/cli/kata-check_amd64_test.go
+++ b/cli/kata-check_amd64_test.go
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ func TestCCCheckCLIFunction(t *testing.T) {
 	var cpuData []testCPUData
 	var moduleData []testModuleData
 
+	t.Skip(testDisabledAsNonRoot)
+
 	if cpuType == cpuTypeIntel {
 		cpuData = []testCPUData{
 			{archGenuineIntel, "lm vmx sse4_1", false},
@@ -245,6 +247,8 @@ func TestCheckCheckKernelModulesNoUnrestrictedGuest(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckHostIsVMContainerCapable(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Skip(testDisabledAsNonRoot)
+
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "")
diff --git a/cli/kata-check_test.go b/cli/kata-check_test.go
index 771f2fde90..7c0e3eb127 100644
--- a/cli/kata-check_test.go
+++ b/cli/kata-check_test.go
@@ -514,6 +514,8 @@ func TestCheckCheckCPUAttribs(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckHaveKernelModule(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Skip(testDisabledAsNonRoot)
+
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "")
diff --git a/cli/release.go b/cli/release.go
index 87e4966124..c86060f9ca 100644
--- a/cli/release.go
+++ b/cli/release.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -276,12 +277,17 @@ func getReleases(releaseURL string, includeAll bool) ([]semver.Version, map[stri
 
 	releasesArray := []map[string]interface{}{}
 
-	bytes, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read release details: %v", err)
+	} else if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusForbidden && bytes.Contains(body, []byte("limit exceeded")) {
+		// Do not fail if rate limit is exceeded
+		kataLog.WithField("url", releaseURL).
+			Warn("API rate limit exceeded. Try again later. Read https://docs.github.com/apps/building-github-apps/understanding-rate-limits-for-github-apps for more information")
+		return []semver.Version{}, map[string]releaseDetails{}, nil
 	}
 
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(bytes, &releasesArray); err != nil {
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &releasesArray); err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unpack release details: %v", err)
 	}