diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de805e6..bfc3877 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@ set -x
 # create directories
 mkdir /code /data
 
+# set proper permissions. make sure the user matches your `DOCKER_USER` setting in `.env`
+chown 1000:1000 /code /data
+
 # clone repo
 cd /code
 git clone https://github.com/pelias/docker.git