diff --git a/docker-config/php-dev-craft/Dockerfile b/docker-config/php-dev-craft/Dockerfile
index d4efb7a..6d390c7 100755
--- a/docker-config/php-dev-craft/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker-config/php-dev-craft/Dockerfile
@@ -55,3 +55,6 @@ RUN mkdir -p /var/www/project/cms/web/cpresources && \
     chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/project/cms/web/cpresources
 
 WORKDIR /var/www/project/cms
+
+# run container as the www-data user
+USER www-data
diff --git a/docker-config/php-prod-craft/Dockerfile b/docker-config/php-prod-craft/Dockerfile
index 4739338..501715a 100755
--- a/docker-config/php-prod-craft/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker-config/php-prod-craft/Dockerfile
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ RUN chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/project/cms/web
 
 WORKDIR /var/www/project/cms
 
+# run container as the www-data user
+USER www-data
+
 # Force permissions, update Craft, and start php-fpm
 
 # Do a `composer install` without running any Composer scripts