diff --git a/Docker/lofar-base/Dockerfile.tmpl b/Docker/lofar-base/Dockerfile.tmpl
index 4f99aa924383578eb7eb09b1371db77c303f8a1f..9db1ced7023d3fc2132306566cfcc74000f7c459 100644
--- a/Docker/lofar-base/Dockerfile.tmpl
+++ b/Docker/lofar-base/Dockerfile.tmpl
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ RUN echo 'ALL ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL' >> /etc/sudoers && \
 #
 # setup install dir
 #
-RUN mkdir -p ${INSTALLDIR} && chown ${USER}.${USER} ${INSTALLDIR}
+RUN mkdir -p ${INSTALLDIR} && chown ${UID}.${UID} ${INSTALLDIR}
 
 USER ${USER}