diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 5c679bc..061e541 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/uv \
     uv pip install --system .
 
 # Run as non-root
-RUN useradd --create-home --shell /bin/bash spicebook
+RUN useradd --create-home --shell /bin/bash spicebook && \
+    mkdir -p /app/notebooks/user /app/notebooks/examples && \
+    chown -R spicebook:spicebook /app/notebooks
 USER spicebook
 
 EXPOSE 8000