diff --git a/scripts/init/debian/gogs b/scripts/init/debian/gogs
index b0b52286f..187e23a96 100644
--- a/scripts/init/debian/gogs
+++ b/scripts/init/debian/gogs
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ do_start()
 	#   0 if daemon has been started
 	#   1 if daemon was already running
 	#   2 if daemon could not be started
-	sh -c "start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --make-pidfile \\
+	sh -c "USER=$USER start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --make-pidfile \\
 			--test --chdir $WORKINGDIR --chuid $USER \\
 			--exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS > /dev/null \\
 			|| return 1"
-	sh -c "start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --make-pidfile \\
+	sh -c "USER=$USER start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --make-pidfile \\
 			--background --chdir $WORKINGDIR --chuid $USER \\
 			--exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS \\
 			|| return 2"