diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
index ea97892f1..da892c1e2 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@ ADD minio.dockerimage /minio
 ADD export /export
 EXPOSE 9000
 COPY start.sh /start.sh
+ENV ALLOW_CONTAINER_ROOT=1
 ENTRYPOINT ["/start.sh"]
diff --git a/runtime-checks.go b/runtime-checks.go
index c9fd35419..402257845 100644
--- a/runtime-checks.go
+++ b/runtime-checks.go
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ func isContainerized() bool {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Check if env var explicitly set
+	if allow := os.Getenv("ALLOW_CONTAINER_ROOT"); allow == "1" || strings.ToLower(allow) == "true" {
+		return true
+	}
+
 	/* Add checks for non-docker containers here. */
 	return false
 }