diff --git a/playbooks/roles/gerrit/tasks/main.yaml b/playbooks/roles/gerrit/tasks/main.yaml
index 4286e343e4..c9d0611612 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/gerrit/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/gerrit/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@
   file:
     state: directory
     path: "{{ gerrit_home_dir }}/.ssh"
+    owner: "{{ gerrit_user_name }}"
+    group: "{{ gerrit_user_name }}"
     mode: 0700
 
 # Private key for gerrit user to connect to other systems,