diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d18fdc7..1112921 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -14,10 +14,16 @@ RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
 
 # Setup MariaDB with proper permissions
 RUN mkdir -p /run/mysqld /var/lib/mysql && \
+    mysql_install_db --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql && \
     chown -R mysql:mysql /run/mysqld && \
     chown -R mysql:mysql /var/lib/mysql && \
-    mysql_install_db --user=mysql --datadir=/var/lib/mysql && \
-    chmod 777 /run/mysqld
+    chmod 755 /run/mysqld && \
+    chmod 755 /var/lib/mysql
+
+# Create log directory with proper permissions
+RUN mkdir -p /var/log/mysql && \
+    chown -R mysql:mysql /var/log/mysql && \
+    chmod 755 /var/log/mysql
 
 WORKDIR /usr/src/app
 COPY package*.json ./
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index f92a56b..bda23c8 100644
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ fi
 # Start MySQL
 echo "Starting MySQL..."
 
-# Ensure directory permissions are correct
-chown -R mysql:mysql /var/lib/mysql /run/mysqld
-chmod 755 /var/lib/mysql
-
 # Start MariaDB with specific options
 mysqld --user=mysql \
     --datadir=/var/lib/mysql \