diff --git a/e3sm-diags/Dockerfile b/e3sm-diags/Dockerfile
index f880ea8..7b005ee 100644
--- a/e3sm-diags/Dockerfile
+++ b/e3sm-diags/Dockerfile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ FROM ubuntu:latest
 RUN mkdir -p /e3sm_diags_downloaded_data/tests/integration
 
 COPY download_files.py /app/download_files.py
-RUN python3 /app/download_files.py
+RUN chmod -x /app/download_files.py
+RUN /app/download_files.py
 
 ENTRYPOINT ["/bin/bash", "--rcfile", "/etc/profile", "-l"]
diff --git a/e3sm-diags/download_files.py b/e3sm-diags/download_files.py
index 8757be3..16f1981 100644
--- a/e3sm-diags/download_files.py
+++ b/e3sm-diags/download_files.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
 import os
 import re
 import urllib.request