diff --git a/obsidian-sync/docker-compose.yml b/obsidian-sync/docker-compose.yml
index d49bc59..591697f 100644
--- a/obsidian-sync/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/obsidian-sync/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ services:
     container_name: obsidian-couchdb
     restart: unless-stopped
 
+    # Run as the couchdb user (uid 5984) from the start. This skips the
+    # entrypoint's "find /opt/couchdb \! -user couchdb -exec chown {}" step,
+    # which fails with EROFS when the :ro bind-mounted ini file is encountered —
+    # causing an immediate silent exit before any log is written.
+    user: "5984:5984"
+
     # Admin credentials come from Dokploy's Environment tab (NOT hard-coded here,
     # so they never land in git). Set COUCHDB_USER / COUCHDB_PASSWORD in the UI.
     environment: