diff --git a/doc/toolbox-init-container.1.md b/doc/toolbox-init-container.1.md
index eb2b7f7..a739757 100644
--- a/doc/toolbox-init-container.1.md
+++ b/doc/toolbox-init-container.1.md
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 toolbox\-init\-container - Initialize a running container
 
 ## SYNOPSIS
-**toolbox init-container** *--home HOME*
+**toolbox init-container** *--gid GID*
+                       *--home HOME*
                        *--home-link*
                        *--media-link*
                        *--mnt-link*
@@ -49,6 +50,11 @@ confusion.
 
 The following options are understood:
 
+**--gid** GID
+
+Pass GID as the user's numerical group ID from the host to the toolbox
+container.
+
 **--home** HOME
 
 Create a user inside the toolbox container whose login directory is HOME.
diff --git a/src/cmd/create.go b/src/cmd/create.go
index 058e0e8..8571d55 100644
--- a/src/cmd/create.go
+++ b/src/cmd/create.go
@@ -379,6 +379,7 @@ func createContainer(container, image, release string, showCommandToEnter bool)
 	entryPoint := []string{
 		"toolbox", "--verbose",
 		"init-container",
+		"--gid", currentUser.Gid,
 		"--home", currentUser.HomeDir,
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/initContainer.go b/src/cmd/initContainer.go
index 1b31d74..d64c0dc 100644
--- a/src/cmd/initContainer.go
+++ b/src/cmd/initContainer.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	initContainerFlags struct {
+		gid         int
 		home        string
 		homeLink    bool
 		mediaLink   bool
@@ -75,6 +76,11 @@ var initContainerCmd = &cobra.Command{
 func init() {
 	flags := initContainerCmd.Flags()
 
+	flags.IntVar(&initContainerFlags.gid,
+		"gid",
+		0,
+		"Create a user inside the toolbox container whose numerical group ID is GID")
+
 	flags.StringVar(&initContainerFlags.home,
 		"home",
 		"",
@@ -130,6 +136,10 @@ func initContainer(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
 	}
 
+	if !cmd.Flag("gid").Changed {
+		initContainerFlags.gid = initContainerFlags.uid
+	}
+
 	utils.EnsureXdgRuntimeDirIsSet(initContainerFlags.uid)
 
 	logrus.Debug("Creating /run/.toolboxenv")
@@ -303,7 +313,7 @@ func initContainer(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	defer initializedStampFile.Close()
 
-	if err := initializedStampFile.Chown(initContainerFlags.uid, initContainerFlags.uid); err != nil {
+	if err := initializedStampFile.Chown(initContainerFlags.uid, initContainerFlags.gid); err != nil {
 		return errors.New("failed to change ownership of initialization stamp")
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pkg/utils/utils.go b/src/pkg/utils/utils.go
index c407a80..c167a2e 100644
--- a/src/pkg/utils/utils.go
+++ b/src/pkg/utils/utils.go
@@ -453,6 +453,11 @@ func GetMountOptions(target string) (string, error) {
 }
 
 func GetRuntimeDirectory(targetUser *user.User) (string, error) {
+	gid, err := strconv.Atoi(targetUser.Gid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to convert group ID to integer: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	uid, err := strconv.Atoi(targetUser.Uid)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to convert user ID to integer: %w", err)
@@ -476,7 +481,7 @@ func GetRuntimeDirectory(targetUser *user.User) (string, error) {
 		return "", wrapped_err
 	}
 
-	if err := os.Chown(toolboxRuntimeDirectory, uid, uid); err != nil {
+	if err := os.Chown(toolboxRuntimeDirectory, uid, gid); err != nil {
 		wrapped_err := fmt.Errorf("failed to change ownership of the runtime directory %s: %w",
 			toolboxRuntimeDirectory,
 			err)