diff --git a/docker/stage2-hook.sh b/docker/stage2-hook.sh
index c10b68582..378316e5d 100755
--- a/docker/stage2-hook.sh
+++ b/docker/stage2-hook.sh
@@ -128,9 +128,7 @@ done
 # mkdir -p block below seeds. Keep them in sync if the seed list changes.
 actual_hermes_uid=$(id -u hermes)
 needs_chown=false
-if [ -n "${HERMES_UID:-}" ] && [ "$HERMES_UID" != "10000" ]; then
-    needs_chown=true
-elif [ "$(stat -c %u "$HERMES_HOME" 2>/dev/null)" != "$actual_hermes_uid" ]; then
+if [ "$(stat -c %u "$HERMES_HOME" 2>/dev/null)" != "$actual_hermes_uid" ]; then
     needs_chown=true
 fi
 if [ "$needs_chown" = true ]; then