diff --git a/pmb/config/__init__.py b/pmb/config/__init__.py
index 932fbf79..b5dd188b 100644
--- a/pmb/config/__init__.py
+++ b/pmb/config/__init__.py
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ defaults = {
     "extra_space": "0"
 }
 
+
+# pmbootstrap will kill programs which do not output anything for several
+# minutes and have one of the following output types. See
+# pmb.helpers.run_core.core() for more information.
+run_outputs_with_timeout = ["log", "stdout"]
+
+
 #
 # CHROOT
 #
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/run.py b/pmb/helpers/run.py
index 5cdeb781..71db19b1 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/run.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/run.py
@@ -73,5 +73,9 @@ 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
+
+    # pmbootstrap shall use 'sudo kill' to get rid of timed out programs
+    kill_as_root = output in pmb.config.run_outputs_with_timeout or None
+
     return user(args, cmd, working_dir, output, output_return, check, env,
-                True)
+                kill_as_root)
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/run_core.py b/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
index 48e20d46..290f5d01 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/run_core.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def sanity_checks(output="log", output_return=False, check=None,
     if output_return and output in ["tui", "background"]:
         raise RuntimeError("Can't use output_return with output: " + output)
 
-    if kill_as_root and output in ["interactive", "tui", "background"]:
+    if kill_as_root and output not in pmb.config.run_outputs_with_timeout:
         raise RuntimeError("Can't use kill_as_root with output: " + output)
 
 
@@ -270,7 +270,8 @@ def core(args, log_message, cmd, working_dir=None, output="log",
         if not args.details_to_stdout and output in ["stdout", "interactive"]:
             output_to_stdout = True
 
-        output_timeout = output in ["log", "stdout"] and not disable_timeout
+        output_timeout = output in pmb.config.run_outputs_with_timeout \
+            and not disable_timeout
         (code, output_after_run) = foreground_pipe(args, cmd, working_dir,
                                                    output_to_stdout,
                                                    output_return,