diff --git a/docker/galera/config-galera.sh b/docker/galera/config-galera.sh
index e660840016..cfdd7d9a2e 100755
--- a/docker/galera/config-galera.sh
+++ b/docker/galera/config-galera.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,5 @@ function bootstrap_db {
 }
 
 function populate_db {
-    mysql_install_db
-    chown -R mysql: /var/lib/mysql
+    mysql_install_db --user=mysql
 }
diff --git a/docker/galera/start.sh b/docker/galera/start.sh
index f8f8d7f771..986cca7339 100755
--- a/docker/galera/start.sh
+++ b/docker/galera/start.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ set_configs
 # loading functions
 source /opt/kolla/config/config-galera.sh
 
+chown mysql: /var/lib/mysql
+
 # This catches all cases of the BOOTSTRAP variable being set, including empty
 if [[ "${!KOLLA_BOOTSTRAP[@]}" ]] && [[ ! -e /var/lib/mysql/cluster.exists ]]; then
     ARGS="--wsrep-new-cluster"