diff --git a/src/test/docker/README.md b/src/test/docker/README.md
index fd6818a..68030ae 100644
--- a/src/test/docker/README.md
+++ b/src/test/docker/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,25 @@
   $ docker-compose build
 ```
 
+### Building the Docker VMs using a non-default user id
+
+```
+  $ export GERRIT_UID=$(id -u)
+  $ docker-compose build --build-arg GERRIT_UID
+```
+
+Above, exporting that UID is optional and will be 1000 by default.
+Build the gerrit images this way only if the user with id 1000 on your
+host is not owned by you. For example, some corporate environments use a
+restricted 1000 user (id). In that case, the containerized application
+may fail to write towards the host (through volumes).
+
+That UID will be the one set for the containerized gerrit user. Latter's
+group will remain as default (1000). This is because groups known from
+the host need to be redefined for containers. Setting that user's group
+in the container is not necessary for writing anyway, as opposed to its
+user id. The individual gerrit user's writing permission does suffice.
+
 ## How to run
 
 Use the 'up' target to startup the Docker Compose VMs.
diff --git a/src/test/docker/docker-compose.yaml b/src/test/docker/docker-compose.yaml
index 6ea2438..b64d1ba 100644
--- a/src/test/docker/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/src/test/docker/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version: '2'
+version: '3'
 
 services:
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
       - "29418:29418"
     networks:
       - gerrit-net
-    volumes_from:
+    volumes:
       - syslog-sidecar
     depends_on:
       - gerrit-01
@@ -72,3 +72,6 @@
 networks:
   gerrit-net:
     driver: bridge
+
+volumes:
+  syslog-sidecar:
diff --git a/src/test/docker/gerrit/Dockerfile b/src/test/docker/gerrit/Dockerfile
index 6e0bbca..fce65fb 100644
--- a/src/test/docker/gerrit/Dockerfile
+++ b/src/test/docker/gerrit/Dockerfile
@@ -21,4 +21,6 @@
 
 RUN rm -Rf /var/gerrit/{git,index,cache}/*
 
+ARG GERRIT_UID=1000
+RUN usermod -u ${GERRIT_UID} gerrit &> /dev/null
 CMD /bin/start.sh
diff --git a/src/test/docker/gerrit/start.sh b/src/test/docker/gerrit/start.sh
index 51bc9bc..454207d 100755
--- a/src/test/docker/gerrit/start.sh
+++ b/src/test/docker/gerrit/start.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   wait-for-it.sh $WAIT_FOR -t 600 -- echo "$WAIT_FOR is up"
 fi
 
-sudo -u gerrit cp /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config.orig /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config
+chown -R gerrit: /var/gerrit && sudo -u gerrit cp /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config.orig /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config
 
 if [[ ! -f /var/gerrit/git/All-Projects.git/config ]]
 then
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 sudo -u gerrit java -jar /var/gerrit/bin/gerrit.war reindex -d /var/gerrit
 sudo -u gerrit git config -f /var/gerrit/etc/gerrit.config gerrit.canonicalWebUrl http://$HOSTNAME/
 
-touch /var/gerrit/logs/{gc_log,error_log,httpd_log,sshd_log,replication_log} && chown -R gerrit: /var/gerrit && tail -f /var/gerrit/logs/* | grep --line-buffered -v 'HEAD /' &
+touch /var/gerrit/logs/{gc_log,error_log,httpd_log,sshd_log,replication_log} && tail -f /var/gerrit/logs/* | grep --line-buffered -v 'HEAD /' &
 
 echo "Running Gerrit ..."
 sudo -u gerrit /etc/init.d/gerrit run