diff --git a/auth/iam.go b/auth/iam.go
index 11a40c9..0387ffb 100644
--- a/auth/iam.go
+++ b/auth/iam.go
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 type Opts struct {
+	RootAccount            Account
 	Dir                    string
 	LDAPServerURL          string
 	LDAPBindDN             string
@@ -114,20 +115,20 @@ func New(o *Opts) (IAMService, error) {
 
 	switch {
 	case o.Dir != "":
-		svc, err = NewInternal(o.Dir)
+		svc, err = NewInternal(o.RootAccount, o.Dir)
 		fmt.Printf("initializing internal IAM with %q\n", o.Dir)
 	case o.LDAPServerURL != "":
-		svc, err = NewLDAPService(o.LDAPServerURL, o.LDAPBindDN, o.LDAPPassword,
+		svc, err = NewLDAPService(o.RootAccount, o.LDAPServerURL, o.LDAPBindDN, o.LDAPPassword,
 			o.LDAPQueryBase, o.LDAPAccessAtr, o.LDAPSecretAtr, o.LDAPRoleAtr, o.LDAPUserIdAtr,
 			o.LDAPGroupIdAtr, o.LDAPObjClasses)
 		fmt.Printf("initializing LDAP IAM with %q\n", o.LDAPServerURL)
 	case o.S3Endpoint != "":
-		svc, err = NewS3(o.S3Access, o.S3Secret, o.S3Region, o.S3Bucket,
+		svc, err = NewS3(o.RootAccount, o.S3Access, o.S3Secret, o.S3Region, o.S3Bucket,
 			o.S3Endpoint, o.S3DisableSSlVerfiy, o.S3Debug)
 		fmt.Printf("initializing S3 IAM with '%v/%v'\n",
 			o.S3Endpoint, o.S3Bucket)
 	case o.VaultEndpointURL != "":
-		svc, err = NewVaultIAMService(o.VaultEndpointURL, o.VaultSecretStoragePath,
+		svc, err = NewVaultIAMService(o.RootAccount, o.VaultEndpointURL, o.VaultSecretStoragePath,
 			o.VaultMountPath, o.VaultRootToken, o.VaultRoleId, o.VaultRoleSecret,
 			o.VaultServerCert, o.VaultClientCert, o.VaultClientCertKey)
 		fmt.Printf("initializing Vault IAM with %q\n", o.VaultEndpointURL)
diff --git a/auth/iam_internal.go b/auth/iam_internal.go
index facfd02..a42c5bd 100644
--- a/auth/iam_internal.go
+++ b/auth/iam_internal.go
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ type IAMServiceInternal struct {
 	// IAM service. All account updates should be sent to a single
 	// gateway instance if possible.
 	sync.RWMutex
-	dir string
+	dir     string
+	rootAcc Account
 }
 
 // UpdateAcctFunc accepts the current data and returns the new data to be stored
@@ -54,9 +55,10 @@ type iAMConfig struct {
 var _ IAMService = &IAMServiceInternal{}
 
 // NewInternal creates a new instance for the Internal IAM service
-func NewInternal(dir string) (*IAMServiceInternal, error) {
+func NewInternal(rootAcc Account, dir string) (*IAMServiceInternal, error) {
 	i := &IAMServiceInternal{
-		dir: dir,
+		dir:     dir,
+		rootAcc: rootAcc,
 	}
 
 	err := i.initIAM()
@@ -70,6 +72,10 @@ func NewInternal(dir string) (*IAMServiceInternal, error) {
 // CreateAccount creates a new IAM account. Returns an error if the account
 // already exists.
 func (s *IAMServiceInternal) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
+	if account.Access == s.rootAcc.Access {
+		return ErrUserExists
+	}
+
 	s.Lock()
 	defer s.Unlock()
 
@@ -97,6 +103,10 @@ func (s *IAMServiceInternal) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
 // GetUserAccount retrieves account info for the requested user. Returns
 // ErrNoSuchUser if the account does not exist.
 func (s *IAMServiceInternal) GetUserAccount(access string) (Account, error) {
+	if access == s.rootAcc.Access {
+		return s.rootAcc, nil
+	}
+
 	s.RLock()
 	defer s.RUnlock()
 
diff --git a/auth/iam_ldap.go b/auth/iam_ldap.go
index 962d9ab..91ddd64 100644
--- a/auth/iam_ldap.go
+++ b/auth/iam_ldap.go
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ type LdapIAMService struct {
 	roleAtr    string
 	groupIdAtr string
 	userIdAtr  string
+	rootAcc    Account
 }
 
 var _ IAMService = &LdapIAMService{}
 
-func NewLDAPService(url, bindDN, pass, queryBase, accAtr, secAtr, roleAtr, userIdAtr, groupIdAtr, objClasses string) (IAMService, error) {
+func NewLDAPService(rootAcc Account, url, bindDN, pass, queryBase, accAtr, secAtr, roleAtr, userIdAtr, groupIdAtr, objClasses string) (IAMService, error) {
 	if url == "" || bindDN == "" || pass == "" || queryBase == "" || accAtr == "" ||
 		secAtr == "" || roleAtr == "" || userIdAtr == "" || groupIdAtr == "" || objClasses == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("required parameters list not fully provided")
@@ -58,10 +59,14 @@ func NewLDAPService(url, bindDN, pass, queryBase, accAtr, secAtr, roleAtr, userI
 		roleAtr:    roleAtr,
 		userIdAtr:  userIdAtr,
 		groupIdAtr: groupIdAtr,
+		rootAcc:    rootAcc,
 	}, nil
 }
 
 func (ld *LdapIAMService) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
+	if ld.rootAcc.Access == account.Access {
+		return ErrUserExists
+	}
 	userEntry := ldap.NewAddRequest(fmt.Sprintf("%v=%v,%v", ld.accessAtr, account.Access, ld.queryBase), nil)
 	userEntry.Attribute("objectClass", ld.objClasses)
 	userEntry.Attribute(ld.accessAtr, []string{account.Access})
@@ -79,6 +84,9 @@ func (ld *LdapIAMService) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
 }
 
 func (ld *LdapIAMService) GetUserAccount(access string) (Account, error) {
+	if access == ld.rootAcc.Access {
+		return ld.rootAcc, nil
+	}
 	searchRequest := ldap.NewSearchRequest(
 		ld.queryBase,
 		ldap.ScopeWholeSubtree,
diff --git a/auth/iam_s3_object.go b/auth/iam_s3_object.go
index d6eed43..2cee171 100644
--- a/auth/iam_s3_object.go
+++ b/auth/iam_s3_object.go
@@ -57,12 +57,13 @@ type IAMServiceS3 struct {
 	endpoint      string
 	sslSkipVerify bool
 	debug         bool
+	rootAcc       Account
 	client        *s3.Client
 }
 
 var _ IAMService = &IAMServiceS3{}
 
-func NewS3(access, secret, region, bucket, endpoint string, sslSkipVerify, debug bool) (*IAMServiceS3, error) {
+func NewS3(rootAcc Account, access, secret, region, bucket, endpoint string, sslSkipVerify, debug bool) (*IAMServiceS3, error) {
 	if access == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("must provide s3 IAM service access key")
 	}
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ func NewS3(access, secret, region, bucket, endpoint string, sslSkipVerify, debug
 		endpoint:      endpoint,
 		sslSkipVerify: sslSkipVerify,
 		debug:         debug,
+		rootAcc:       rootAcc,
 	}
 
 	cfg, err := i.getConfig()
@@ -106,6 +108,10 @@ func NewS3(access, secret, region, bucket, endpoint string, sslSkipVerify, debug
 }
 
 func (s *IAMServiceS3) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
+	if s.rootAcc.Access == account.Access {
+		return ErrUserExists
+	}
+
 	s.Lock()
 	defer s.Unlock()
 
@@ -124,6 +130,10 @@ func (s *IAMServiceS3) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
 }
 
 func (s *IAMServiceS3) GetUserAccount(access string) (Account, error) {
+	if access == s.rootAcc.Access {
+		return s.rootAcc, nil
+	}
+
 	s.RLock()
 	defer s.RUnlock()
 
@@ -242,7 +252,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceS3) getAccounts() (iAMConfig, error) {
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		// if the error is object not exists,
-		// init empty accounts stuct and return that
+		// init empty accounts struct and return that
 		var nsk *types.NoSuchKey
 		if errors.As(err, &nsk) {
 			return iAMConfig{AccessAccounts: map[string]Account{}}, nil
diff --git a/auth/iam_vault.go b/auth/iam_vault.go
index b4f6fc2..44fabc3 100644
--- a/auth/iam_vault.go
+++ b/auth/iam_vault.go
@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@ type VaultIAMService struct {
 	client            *vault.Client
 	reqOpts           []vault.RequestOption
 	secretStoragePath string
+	rootAcc           Account
 }
 
 var _ IAMService = &VaultIAMService{}
 
-func NewVaultIAMService(endpoint, secretStoragePath, mountPath, rootToken, roleID, roleSecret, serverCert, clientCert, clientCertKey string) (IAMService, error) {
+func NewVaultIAMService(rootAcc Account, endpoint, secretStoragePath, mountPath, rootToken, roleID, roleSecret, serverCert, clientCert, clientCertKey string) (IAMService, error) {
 	opts := []vault.ClientOption{
 		vault.WithAddress(endpoint),
 		// set request timeout to 10 secs
@@ -100,10 +101,14 @@ func NewVaultIAMService(endpoint, secretStoragePath, mountPath, rootToken, roleI
 		client:            client,
 		reqOpts:           reqOpts,
 		secretStoragePath: secretStoragePath,
+		rootAcc:           rootAcc,
 	}, nil
 }
 
 func (vt *VaultIAMService) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
+	if vt.rootAcc.Access == account.Access {
+		return ErrUserExists
+	}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
 	_, err := vt.client.Secrets.KvV2Write(ctx, vt.secretStoragePath+"/"+account.Access, schema.KvV2WriteRequest{
 		Data: map[string]any{
@@ -125,6 +130,9 @@ func (vt *VaultIAMService) CreateAccount(account Account) error {
 }
 
 func (vt *VaultIAMService) GetUserAccount(access string) (Account, error) {
+	if vt.rootAcc.Access == access {
+		return vt.rootAcc, nil
+	}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
 	resp, err := vt.client.Secrets.KvV2Read(ctx, vt.secretStoragePath+"/"+access, vt.reqOpts...)
 	cancel()
diff --git a/cmd/versitygw/main.go b/cmd/versitygw/main.go
index 2e735da..731bc79 100644
--- a/cmd/versitygw/main.go
+++ b/cmd/versitygw/main.go
@@ -579,6 +579,11 @@ func runGateway(ctx context.Context, be backend.Backend) error {
 	}
 
 	iam, err := auth.New(&auth.Opts{
+		RootAccount: auth.Account{
+			Access: rootUserAccess,
+			Secret: rootUserSecret,
+			Role:   auth.RoleAdmin,
+		},
 		Dir:                    iamDir,
 		LDAPServerURL:          ldapURL,
 		LDAPBindDN:             ldapBindDN,
diff --git a/tests/integration/group-tests.go b/tests/integration/group-tests.go
index 4321b7a..1be756d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/group-tests.go
+++ b/tests/integration/group-tests.go
@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ func TestWORMProtection(s *S3Conf) {
 	WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete(s)
 	WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete_mul(s)
 	WORMProtection_object_lock_legal_hold_locked(s)
+	WORMProtection_root_bypass_governance_retention_delete_object(s)
 }
 
 func TestFullFlow(s *S3Conf) {
@@ -475,6 +476,7 @@ func TestIAM(s *S3Conf) {
 	IAM_userplus_access_denied(s)
 	IAM_userplus_CreateBucket(s)
 	IAM_admin_ChangeBucketOwner(s)
+	IAM_ChangeBucketOwner_back_to_root(s)
 }
 
 func TestAccessControl(s *S3Conf) {
@@ -766,6 +768,7 @@ func GetIntTests() IntTests {
 		"WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete":       WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete,
 		"WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete_mul":   WORMProtection_object_lock_retention_governance_bypass_delete_mul,
 		"WORMProtection_object_lock_legal_hold_locked":                        WORMProtection_object_lock_legal_hold_locked,
+		"WORMProtection_root_bypass_governance_retention_delete_object":       WORMProtection_root_bypass_governance_retention_delete_object,
 		"PutObject_overwrite_dir_obj":                                         PutObject_overwrite_dir_obj,
 		"PutObject_overwrite_file_obj":                                        PutObject_overwrite_file_obj,
 		"PutObject_dir_obj_with_data":                                         PutObject_dir_obj_with_data,
@@ -774,6 +777,7 @@ func GetIntTests() IntTests {
 		"IAM_userplus_access_denied":                                          IAM_userplus_access_denied,
 		"IAM_userplus_CreateBucket":                                           IAM_userplus_CreateBucket,
 		"IAM_admin_ChangeBucketOwner":                                         IAM_admin_ChangeBucketOwner,
+		"IAM_ChangeBucketOwner_back_to_root":                                  IAM_ChangeBucketOwner_back_to_root,
 		"AccessControl_default_ACL_user_access_denied":                        AccessControl_default_ACL_user_access_denied,
 		"AccessControl_default_ACL_userplus_access_denied":                    AccessControl_default_ACL_userplus_access_denied,
 		"AccessControl_default_ACL_admin_successful_access":                   AccessControl_default_ACL_admin_successful_access,
diff --git a/tests/integration/tests.go b/tests/integration/tests.go
index a6626e5..ed74a6c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/tests.go
+++ b/tests/integration/tests.go
@@ -9037,6 +9037,65 @@ func WORMProtection_object_lock_legal_hold_locked(s *S3Conf) error {
 	}, withLock())
 }
 
+func WORMProtection_root_bypass_governance_retention_delete_object(s *S3Conf) error {
+	testName := "WORMProtection_root_bypass_governance_retention_delete_object"
+	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
+		obj := "my-obj"
+		if err := putObjects(s3client, []string{obj}, bucket); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		retDate := time.Now().Add(time.Hour * 48)
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+		_, err := s3client.PutObjectRetention(ctx, &s3.PutObjectRetentionInput{
+			Bucket: &bucket,
+			Key:    &obj,
+			Retention: &types.ObjectLockRetention{
+				Mode:            types.ObjectLockRetentionModeGovernance,
+				RetainUntilDate: &retDate,
+			},
+		})
+		cancel()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if err := checkWORMProtection(s3client, bucket, obj); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		policy := genPolicyDoc("Allow", fmt.Sprintf(`"%v"`, s.awsID), `["s3:BypassGovernanceRetention"]`, fmt.Sprintf(`"arn:aws:s3:::%v/*"`, bucket))
+
+		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+		_, err = s3client.PutBucketPolicy(ctx, &s3.PutBucketPolicyInput{
+			Bucket: &bucket,
+			Policy: &policy,
+		})
+		cancel()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		bypass := true
+		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+		_, err = s3client.DeleteObject(ctx, &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
+			Bucket:                    &bucket,
+			Key:                       &obj,
+			BypassGovernanceRetention: &bypass,
+		})
+		cancel()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if err := changeBucketObjectLockStatus(s3client, bucket, false); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}, withLock())
+}
+
 // Access control tests (with bucket ACLs and Policies)
 func AccessControl_default_ACL_user_access_denied(s *S3Conf) error {
 	testName := "AccessControl_default_ACL_user_access_denied"
@@ -9558,6 +9617,33 @@ func IAM_admin_ChangeBucketOwner(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 }
 
+func IAM_ChangeBucketOwner_back_to_root(s *S3Conf) error {
+	testName := "IAM_ChangeBucketOwner_back_to_root"
+	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
+		usr := user{
+			access: "grt1",
+			secret: "grt1secret",
+			role:   "user",
+		}
+
+		if err := createUsers(s, []user{usr}); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// Change the bucket ownership to a random user
+		if err := changeBucketsOwner(s, []string{bucket}, usr.access); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// Change the bucket ownership back to the root user
+		if err := changeBucketsOwner(s, []string{bucket}, s.awsID); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
 // Posix related tests
 func PutObject_overwrite_dir_obj(s *S3Conf) error {
 	testName := "PutObject_overwrite_dir_obj"