diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2c75a2b0..e7f0f178 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -195,6 +195,12 @@ $ pmbootstrap stats --arch=armhf
 $ pmbootstrap log_distccd
 ```
 
+### Use alternative sudo
+
+pmbootstrap supports `doas` and `sudo`.
+If multiple sudo implementations are installed, pmbootstrap will use `doas`.
+You can set the `PMB_SUDO` environmental variable to define the sudo implementation you want to use.
+
 ## Development
 ### Requirements for running tests
 * [Shellcheck](https://shellcheck.net/)
diff --git a/pmb/chroot/root.py b/pmb/chroot/root.py
index b8181280..e531c679 100644
--- a/pmb/chroot/root.py
+++ b/pmb/chroot/root.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def root(args, cmd, suffix="native", working_dir="/", output="log",
     executables = executables_absolute_path()
     cmd_chroot = [executables["chroot"], chroot, "/bin/sh", "-c",
                   pmb.helpers.run.flat_cmd(cmd, working_dir)]
-    cmd_sudo = ["sudo", "env", "-i", executables["sh"], "-c",
+    cmd_sudo = [pmb.config.sudo, "env", "-i", executables["sh"], "-c",
                 pmb.helpers.run.flat_cmd(cmd_chroot, env=env_all)]
     return pmb.helpers.run_core.core(args, msg, cmd_sudo, None, output,
                                      output_return, check, True,
diff --git a/pmb/config/__init__.py b/pmb/config/__init__.py
index 38b2f709..f440f13d 100644
--- a/pmb/config/__init__.py
+++ b/pmb/config/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import sys
 from pmb.config.load import load
 from pmb.config.save import save
 from pmb.config.merge_with_args import merge_with_args
+from pmb.config.sudo import which_sudo
 
 
 #
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ ondev_min_version = "0.2.0"
 # in sync with README.md, and try to keep the list as small as possible. The
 # idea is to run almost everything in Alpine chroots.
 required_programs = ["git", "openssl", "ps"]
+sudo = which_sudo()
 
 # Keys saved in the config file (mostly what we ask in 'pmbootstrap init')
 config_keys = ["aports",
diff --git a/pmb/config/sudo.py b/pmb/config/sudo.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4512ece0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pmb/config/sudo.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Copyright 2021 Anjandev Momi
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+import os
+import shutil
+
+
+def which_sudo():
+    """
+    Find whether sudo or doas is installed for commands that require root.
+    Allows user to override preferred sudo with PMB_SUDO env variable.
+    """
+    supported_sudos = ['doas', 'sudo']
+
+    user_set_sudo = os.getenv("PMB_SUDO")
+    if user_set_sudo is not None:
+        if shutil.which(user_set_sudo) is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("PMB_SUDO environmental variable is set to"
+                               f" {user_set_sudo} but pmbootstrap cannot find"
+                               " this command on your system.")
+        return user_set_sudo
+
+    for sudo in supported_sudos:
+        if shutil.which(sudo) is not None:
+            return sudo
+
+    raise RuntimeError("Can't find sudo or doas required to run pmbootstrap."
+                       " Please install sudo, doas, or specify your own sudo"
+                       " with the PMB_SUDO environmental variable.")
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/run.py b/pmb/helpers/run.py
index 0d6a7bd3..9100c3d7 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/run.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/run.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def user(args, cmd, working_dir=None, output="log", output_return=False,
 def root(args, cmd, working_dir=None, output="log", output_return=False,
          check=None, env={}):
     """
-    Run a command on the host system as root, with sudo.
+    Run a command on the host system as root, with sudo or doas.
 
     :param env: dict of environment variables to be passed to the command, e.g.
                 {"JOBS": "5"}
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def root(args, cmd, working_dir=None, output="log", output_return=False,
     """
     if env:
         cmd = ["sh", "-c", flat_cmd(cmd, env=env)]
-    cmd = ["sudo"] + cmd
+    cmd = [pmb.config.sudo] + cmd
 
     return user(args, cmd, working_dir, output, output_return, check, env,
                 True)
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/run_core.py b/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
index 800b7e86..e42e76b4 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
@@ -224,7 +224,10 @@ def sudo_timer_iterate():
     Run sudo -v and schedule a new timer to repeat the same.
     """
 
-    subprocess.Popen(["sudo", "-v"]).wait()
+    if pmb.config.sudo == "sudo":
+        subprocess.Popen(["sudo", "-v"]).wait()
+    else:
+        subprocess.Popen([pmb.config.sudo, "true"]).wait()
 
     timer = threading.Timer(interval=60, function=sudo_timer_iterate)
     timer.daemon = True
diff --git a/pmb/parse/bootimg.py b/pmb/parse/bootimg.py
index a713d47d..b6759592 100644
--- a/pmb/parse/bootimg.py
+++ b/pmb/parse/bootimg.py
@@ -79,8 +79,9 @@ def bootimg(args, path):
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         raise RuntimeError("Could not find file '" + path + "'")
 
-    logging.info("NOTE: You will be prompted for your sudo password, so we can"
-                 " set up a chroot to extract and analyze your boot.img file")
+    logging.info("NOTE: You will be prompted for your sudo/doas password, so"
+                 " we can set up a chroot to extract and analyze your"
+                 " boot.img file")
     pmb.chroot.apk.install(args, ["file", "unpackbootimg"])
 
     temp_path = pmb.chroot.other.tempfolder(args, "/tmp/bootimg_parser")
diff --git a/test/test_run_core.py b/test/test_run_core.py
index 06ed1eae..506488d9 100644
--- a/test/test_run_core.py
+++ b/test/test_run_core.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import sys
 import subprocess
 import pytest
+import time
 
 import pmb_test  # noqa
 import pmb.helpers.run_core
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def test_foreground_pipe(args):
     assert ret == (-9, "first\n")
 
     # Kill with output timeout as root
-    cmd = ["sudo", "sh", "-c", "printf first; sleep 2; printf second"]
+    cmd = [pmb.config.sudo, "sh", "-c", "printf first; sleep 2; printf second"]
     args.timeout = 0.3
     ret = func(args, cmd, output_return=True, output_timeout=True,
                sudo=True)
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def test_foreground_pipe(args):
     # Check if all child processes are killed after timeout.
     # The first command uses ps to get its process group id (pgid) and echo it
     # to stdout. All of the test commands will be running under that pgid.
-    cmd = ["sudo", "sh", "-c",
+    cmd = [pmb.config.sudo, "sh", "-c",
            "pgid=$(ps -o pgid= | grep ^${1:-$$});echo $pgid | tr -d '\n';" +
            "sleep 10 | sleep 20 | sleep 30"]
     args.timeout = 0.3
@@ -152,3 +153,14 @@ def test_core(args):
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as e:
         func(args, msg, ["sleep", "1"], output="log")
     assert str(e.value).startswith("Command failed:")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skip_ci
+def test_sudo_timer(args):
+    pmb.helpers.run.root(args, ["whoami"])
+
+    time.sleep(300)
+
+    out = pmb.helpers.run.root(args, ["whoami"])
+
+    assert out == 0