Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: docker entrypoint running bash script gets "permission denied"

Docker permission denied error when running bash script

Quick Answer: The issue is likely due to the incorrect permissions on the .sh script or the directory it's being executed from. Try changing the ownership of the script and its parent directory to the user who will be running the container, or use the `chmod` command in the Dockerfile to set the correct permissions.

When running a Docker container with an entrypoint that executes a bash script, it's common to encounter the 'permission denied' error. This occurs when the Docker process doesn't have the necessary permissions to execute the script.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Insufficient permissions for the Docker process to execute the script.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Changing the Script's Execution Permissions

  1. Step 1: Change the ownership of the script to the Docker user.

Method 2: Adding the Script to the Docker User's PATH

  1. Step 1: Add the script's directory to the Docker user's PATH environment variable.

🎯 Final Words

To fix the 'permission denied' error when running a Docker container with an entrypoint that executes a bash script, try changing the script's execution permissions or adding the script to the Docker user's PATH environment variable.

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