diff --git a/openshift/ci-operator/build-image/Dockerfile b/openshift/ci-operator/build-image/Dockerfile
index 4574ecebc6..db7b13ce00 100755
--- a/openshift/ci-operator/build-image/Dockerfile
+++ b/openshift/ci-operator/build-image/Dockerfile
@@ -22,3 +22,6 @@ RUN GOFLAGS='' go install github.com/mikefarah/yq/v3@latest
 # go install creates $GOPATH/.cache with root permissions, we delete it here
 # to avoid permission issues with the runtime users
 RUN rm -rf $GOPATH/.cache
+
+# Allow runtime users to add entries to /etc/passwd
+RUN chmod g+rw /etc/passwd