diff --git a/archivebox/config/permissions.py b/archivebox/config/permissions.py
index c26c005c..c374ee09 100644
--- a/archivebox/config/permissions.py
+++ b/archivebox/config/permissions.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os
 import platform
 import pwd
 import socket
+import stat
 import subprocess
 import sys
 from contextlib import contextmanager, suppress
@@ -164,6 +165,8 @@ ROOT_HANDOFF_NAMES = (
     "index.sqlite3-wal",
     "archive",
     "cache",
+    "custom_plugins",
+    "custom_templates",
     "lib",
     "logs",
     "personas",
@@ -208,6 +211,16 @@ def root_should_handoff_data_dir(
     return is_root and account_uid is not None and (not data_dir_owner_exists or data_dir_uid in (0, account_uid))
 
 
+def root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(*, parent_uid: int, parent_gid: int, parent_mode: int, account_gid: int) -> bool:
+    """Return whether adding archivebox traversal preserves existing parent access."""
+
+    if parent_uid != 0 or parent_mode & stat.S_IXOTH:
+        return False
+    if parent_gid == account_gid:
+        return not bool(parent_mode & stat.S_IXGRP)
+    return not bool(parent_mode & stat.S_IRWXG)
+
+
 def handoff_root_owned_data_dir() -> None:
     account_uid = ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT.pw_uid if ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT is not None else None
     if not root_should_handoff_data_dir(
@@ -218,7 +231,27 @@ def handoff_root_owned_data_dir() -> None:
     ):
         return
 
-    for path in root_data_dir_handoff_paths(DATA_DIR, sys.argv):
+    handoff_paths = root_data_dir_handoff_paths(DATA_DIR, sys.argv)
+    if not handoff_paths:
+        return
+
+    # A root user's collection commonly lives below /root, which the archivebox
+    # account cannot traverse after EUID is dropped. Grant only that group the
+    # missing execute bit on root-owned parents; never walk collection contents.
+    for parent in DATA_DIR.resolve().parents:
+        if parent == Path("/"):
+            continue
+        parent_stat = parent.stat(follow_symlinks=False)
+        if root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(
+            parent_uid=parent_stat.st_uid,
+            parent_gid=parent_stat.st_gid,
+            parent_mode=parent_stat.st_mode,
+            account_gid=ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT.pw_gid,
+        ):
+            os.chown(parent, -1, ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT.pw_gid, follow_symlinks=False)
+            os.chmod(parent, stat.S_IMODE(parent_stat.st_mode) | stat.S_IXGRP, follow_symlinks=False)
+
+    for path in handoff_paths:
         try:
             os.chown(path, ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT.pw_uid, ARCHIVEBOX_ACCOUNT.pw_gid, follow_symlinks=False)
         except (FileNotFoundError, PermissionError):
diff --git a/archivebox/tests/test_permissions.py b/archivebox/tests/test_permissions.py
index a07b79f6..790d984a 100644
--- a/archivebox/tests/test_permissions.py
+++ b/archivebox/tests/test_permissions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from archivebox.config.permissions import is_root_identity, root_should_handoff_data_dir, select_archivebox_user
+from archivebox.config.permissions import (
+    is_root_identity,
+    root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal,
+    root_should_handoff_data_dir,
+    select_archivebox_user,
+)
 
 
 def test_root_identity_includes_real_or_effective_root():
@@ -115,16 +120,20 @@ def test_existing_collection_handoff_is_bounded_to_known_top_level_paths(tmp_pat
 
     database = tmp_path / "index.sqlite3"
     archive = tmp_path / "archive"
+    custom_plugins = tmp_path / "custom_plugins"
+    custom_templates = tmp_path / "custom_templates"
     nested = archive / "large-existing-snapshot"
     errors_log = tmp_path / "logs" / "errors.log"
     database.touch()
     nested.mkdir(parents=True)
+    custom_plugins.mkdir()
+    custom_templates.mkdir()
     errors_log.parent.mkdir()
     errors_log.touch()
 
     paths = root_data_dir_handoff_paths(tmp_path, ["archivebox", "status"])
 
-    assert paths == (tmp_path, database, archive, errors_log.parent, errors_log)
+    assert paths == (tmp_path, database, archive, custom_plugins, custom_templates, errors_log.parent, errors_log)
     assert nested not in paths
     assert all(path == tmp_path or path.parent in (tmp_path, errors_log.parent) for path in paths)
 
@@ -139,3 +148,11 @@ def test_root_handoff_never_selects_filesystem_root():
     from archivebox.config.permissions import root_data_dir_handoff_paths
 
     assert root_data_dir_handoff_paths(Path("/"), ["archivebox", "init"]) == ()
+
+
+def test_root_private_parent_grants_only_archivebox_group_traversal():
+    assert root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(parent_uid=0, parent_gid=0, parent_mode=0o700, account_gid=911)
+    assert not root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(parent_uid=0, parent_gid=0, parent_mode=0o701, account_gid=911)
+    assert not root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(parent_uid=0, parent_gid=911, parent_mode=0o710, account_gid=911)
+    assert not root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(parent_uid=0, parent_gid=100, parent_mode=0o750, account_gid=911)
+    assert not root_parent_can_grant_group_traversal(parent_uid=1000, parent_gid=1000, parent_mode=0o700, account_gid=911)