diff --git a/rockcraft/pebble.py b/rockcraft/pebble.py
index 608e57325..e71f9520b 100644
--- a/rockcraft/pebble.py
+++ b/rockcraft/pebble.py
@@ -172,7 +172,11 @@ class Pebble:
         "stage-snaps": ["pebble/latest/stable"],
         "stage": [PEBBLE_BINARY_PATH],
         # We need this because "services" is Optional, but the directory must exist
-        "override-prime": f"craftctl default\nmkdir -p {PEBBLE_LAYERS_PATH}",
+        "override-prime": str(
+            "craftctl default\n"
+            f"mkdir -p {PEBBLE_LAYERS_PATH}\n"
+            f"chmod 777 {PEBBLE_PATH}"
+        ),
     }
 
     def define_pebble_layer(
diff --git a/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/rockcraft.yaml b/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/rockcraft.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6e906cbfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/rockcraft.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+name: run-user-minimal-test
+version: latest
+summary: A minimal rock with a non-root user
+description: A minimal rock that has a non-root default user
+license: GPL-3.0
+
+base: ubuntu@22.04
+
+platforms:
+    amd64:
+
+run-user: _daemon_
+
+parts:
+    my-part:
+        plugin: nil
diff --git a/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/task.yaml b/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/task.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8240817c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/spread/general/run-user-minimal/task.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+summary: non-root run-user minimal test
+
+execute: |
+  run_rockcraft pack
+
+  test -f run-user-minimal-test_latest_amd64.rock
+  test ! -d work
+
+  # Ensure docker does not have this container image
+  docker rmi --force run-user-minimal-test
+  # Install container
+  sudo /snap/rockcraft/current/bin/skopeo --insecure-policy copy \
+    oci-archive:run-user-minimal-test_latest_amd64.rock \
+    docker-daemon:run-user-minimal-test:latest
+  # Ensure container exists
+  docker images run-user-minimal-test | MATCH "run-user-minimal-test"
+  docker inspect run-user-minimal-test --format '{{.Config.User}}' | \
+    MATCH "_daemon_"
+
+  # ensure username
+  docker run --rm --entrypoint /bin/sh run-user-minimal-test \
+    -c 'whoami' | MATCH "_daemon_"
+  docker run --rm run-user-minimal-test exec whoami | MATCH "_daemon_"
+
+  # check $HOME = /var/lib/pebble/default for non-root user
+  docker run --rm run-user-minimal-test exec \
+    env | MATCH "HOME=/var/lib/pebble/default"
+  docker run --rm run-user-minimal-test exec \
+    pwd | MATCH "/var/lib/pebble/default"
+
+  # check permission of /var/lib/pebble/default directory
+  docker run --rm run-user-minimal-test exec \
+    stat --format="%a" /var/lib/pebble/default | MATCH "777"
+
+  # check file creation capability of non-root user
+  docker run --rm run-user-minimal-test exec \
+    /bin/sh -c 'touch foo; ls' | MATCH foo
+
+restore: |
+  rm -f run-user-minimal-test_latest_amd64.rock
+  docker rmi -f run-user-minimal-test
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/test_expand_extensions.py b/tests/unit/commands/test_expand_extensions.py
index 232676d2d..dc9654da7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/test_expand_extensions.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/test_expand_extensions.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
         override-prime: |-
           craftctl default
           mkdir -p var/lib/pebble/default/layers
+          chmod 777 var/lib/pebble/default
     platforms:
       amd64:
         build_on: null
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_project.py b/tests/unit/test_project.py
index 52f27963a..8bc99a7a8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_project.py
@@ -113,7 +113,11 @@ def pebble_part() -> dict[str, Any]:
             "plugin": "nil",
             "stage-snaps": ["pebble/latest/stable"],
             "stage": ["bin/pebble"],
-            "override-prime": "craftctl default\nmkdir -p var/lib/pebble/default/layers",
+            "override-prime": str(
+                "craftctl default\n"
+                "mkdir -p var/lib/pebble/default/layers\n"
+                "chmod 777 var/lib/pebble/default"
+            ),
         }
     }