diff --git a/src/main/bash/sdkman-init.sh b/src/main/bash/sdkman-init.sh
index e6328a0a3..3e306d47d 100644
--- a/src/main/bash/sdkman-init.sh
+++ b/src/main/bash/sdkman-init.sh
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ if [ -z "$SDKMAN_CANDIDATES_API" ]; then
 	export SDKMAN_CANDIDATES_API="@SDKMAN_CANDIDATES_API@"
 fi
 
-if [ -z "$SDKMAN_DIR" ]; then
+sdkman_owner=$(ls -ld "${SDKMAN_DIR}" | awk '{ print $3 }')
+if [[ -z "$SDKMAN_DIR" || "${sdkman_owner}" != "$(whoami)" ]]; then
 	export SDKMAN_DIR="$HOME/.sdkman"
 fi
+unset sdkman_owner
 
 # infer platform
 SDKMAN_PLATFORM="$(uname)"