diff --git a/arch-setup/install.sh b/arch-setup/install.sh
index e9c3c607..570b471c 100755
--- a/arch-setup/install.sh
+++ b/arch-setup/install.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,22 @@
 # NOTE ignore errors from missing "||". Try getting the line below to work
 #set -euo pipefail
 
+# function to keep sudo from timing out
+function func_dont_timeout {
+    while true; do
+        sudo -v
+        sleep 60
+    done
+}
+
+# check if user is root
+if [ "$EUID" -ne 0 ]; then
+    sudo -v
+fi
+
+# keep sudo active in background
+func_dont_timeout &
+
 # get current directory
 setupdir=$(pwd)