diff --git a/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.ray-worker-strixhalo b/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.ray-worker-strixhalo
index 09233b1..327015a 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.ray-worker-strixhalo
+++ b/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.ray-worker-strixhalo
@@ -50,8 +50,14 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/var/cache/apt,sharing=locked \
         kmod \
         libopenmpi3 \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
-    && groupadd -g 100 -o users 2>/dev/null || true \
-    && useradd -m -u 1000 -g 100 -s /bin/bash ray \
+    && (groupadd -g 100 -o users 2>/dev/null || true) \
+    # Vendor image may already have UID 1000 — rename it to ray, or create ray
+    && existing=$(getent passwd 1000 | cut -d: -f1) \
+    && if [ -n "$existing" ] && [ "$existing" != "ray" ]; then \
+           usermod -l ray -d /home/ray -m -s /bin/bash "$existing"; \
+       elif [ -z "$existing" ]; then \
+           useradd -m -u 1000 -g 100 -s /bin/bash ray; \
+       fi \
     && mkdir -p /home/ray/.aiter && chown 1000:100 /home/ray/.aiter
 
 # Install uv for fast Python package management (ADR-0014)