diff --git a/hplip/base/utils.py b/hplip/base/utils.py

index 25546f5c0..14db000ab 100644

--- a/hplip/base/utils.py

+++ b/hplip/base/utils.py

@@ -2610,6 +2610,11 @@ def get_distro_name(passwordObj = None):

     return (name,ver)

 def readAuthType():

+    (os, ver) = get_distro_name()

+    if os == 'simply':

+        return 'sudo'

+    else:

+        return 'su'

     try:

         import os

         from grp import getgrnam