diff --git a/src/backdrop.psm1 b/src/backdrop.psm1
index 6561047..e04c3ed 100644
--- a/src/backdrop.psm1
+++ b/src/backdrop.psm1
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ function Set-Wallpaper {
 function Invoke-TimerConfig {
   $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction `
     -Execute 'powershell.exe' `
-    -Argument "-NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -Command `"Import-Module backdrop; backdrop update`""
+    -Argument "-NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command `"Import-Module backdrop; backdrop update`""
 
   if ($script:RotateInterval -gt 0) {
     $timeTrigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At '00:00'
diff --git a/src/install.ps1 b/src/install.ps1
index fb98902..e04ee0b 100644
--- a/src/install.ps1
+++ b/src/install.ps1
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ try {
 Write-Host "backdrop: installed to $destDir"
 
 # Load the module and enable the scheduled task.
+# Process-scoped so it doesn't touch the system-wide execution policy; it only
+# affects this powershell.exe instance and disappears when it exits.
+Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force
 Import-Module (Join-Path $destDir 'backdrop.psm1') -Force
 backdrop enable