diff --git a/docker/entrypoint.sh b/docker/entrypoint.sh
index 18f8fff4e1..67d193f13b 100755
--- a/docker/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/entrypoint.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ if [ ! -f "$HERMES_HOME/config.yaml" ]; then
     cp "$INSTALL_DIR/cli-config.yaml.example" "$HERMES_HOME/config.yaml"
 fi
 
+# Ensure the main config file remains accessible to the hermes runtime user
+# even if it was edited on the host after initial ownership setup.
+if [ -f "$HERMES_HOME/config.yaml" ]; then
+    chown hermes:hermes "$HERMES_HOME/config.yaml"
+    chmod 640 "$HERMES_HOME/config.yaml"
+fi
+
 # SOUL.md
 if [ ! -f "$HERMES_HOME/SOUL.md" ]; then
     cp "$INSTALL_DIR/docker/SOUL.md" "$HERMES_HOME/SOUL.md"