diff --git a/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/.devcontainer.json b/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/.devcontainer.json
index ac061e63..52bb29b5 100644
--- a/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/.devcontainer.json
+++ b/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/.devcontainer.json
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   "service": "app",
   "shutdownAction": "none",
   "workspaceFolder": "/workspace",
+  "initializeCommand": "DOCKER_GID=`getent group docker | cut -d: -f3` && echo \"DOCKER_GID=${DOCKER_GID}\" > .env",
   "postCreateCommand": "./startupscript/post-startup.sh jupyter /home/jupyter ${templateOption:cloud} ${templateOption:login} && ./startupscript/setup-docker.sh",
   // re-mount bucket files on container start up
   "postStartCommand": [
diff --git a/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/docker-compose.yaml b/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/docker-compose.yaml
index 06ac129e..b491fc9a 100644
--- a/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/src/workbench-jupyter-docker/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ services:
   app:
     container_name: "application-server"
     image: "us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/verily-workbench-public/apps/workbench-jupyter:latest"
-    user: "jupyter"
+    user: "jupyter:${DOCKER_GID}"
     restart: always
     volumes:
       - .:/workspace:cached