diff --git a/roles/gitea/defaults/main.yml b/roles/gitea/defaults/main.yml
index 12cf03d..a115f87 100644
--- a/roles/gitea/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/gitea/defaults/main.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ gitea_container_extra_labels: {}
 gitea_container_extra_ports: []
 gitea_container_extra_volumes: []
 gitea_container_state: started
+gitea_container_user: ~
 
 # container defaults
 gitea_container_base_volumes:
diff --git a/roles/gitea/tasks/main.yml b/roles/gitea/tasks/main.yml
index e3ab002..df3c6ee 100644
--- a/roles/gitea/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/gitea/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 ---
-
 - name: Ensure gitea user '{{ gitea_user }}' is present
   ansible.builtin.user:
     name: "{{ gitea_user }}"
@@ -75,6 +74,7 @@
     published_ports: "{{ gitea_container_ports }}"
     restart_policy: "{{ gitea_container_restart_policy }}"
     state: "{{ gitea_container_state }}"
+    user: "{{ gitea_container_user | default(omit, true) }}"
 
 - name: Ensure given configuration is set in the config file
   ansible.builtin.ini_file: