diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 8024448..38a65b0 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ set -eu
 
 mkdir -p /app/data/data /run/minio/config /run/minio/certs
 
+# minio is used for backups at times and has a large number of files. optimize by checking if files
+# are actually in correct chown state
 echo "==> Changing ownership"
-chown -R cloudron:cloudron /app/data
+[[ $(stat --format '%U' /app/data/data) != "cloudron" ]] && chown -R cloudron:cloudron /app/data
 
 # the --config-dir is deprecated and not used. but without it, minio will try to create $HOME/.minio :/ same for --certs-dir
 echo "==> Starting minio"