diff --git a/phase2_gitea_fedora.sh b/phase2_gitea_fedora.sh
index d9dffd1..57912ac 100755
--- a/phase2_gitea_fedora.sh
+++ b/phase2_gitea_fedora.sh
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ if curl -sf -u "${GITEA_ADMIN_USER}:${GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD}" "${GITEA_BACKUP_INT
   log_info "Admin user already exists — skipping"
 else
   # Create via CLI inside container, same pattern as Phase 1
-  ssh_exec FEDORA "docker exec gitea gitea admin user create \
+  ssh_exec FEDORA "docker exec -u git gitea gitea admin user create \
     --username '${GITEA_ADMIN_USER}' \
     --password '${GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD}' \
     --email '${GITEA_ADMIN_EMAIL}' \