diff --git a/appendix b/appendix
index 1e7139c..0023be5 100644
--- a/appendix
+++ b/appendix
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ ENV CONDA_ENV=notebook
 # Install R, RStudio via Rocker scripts
 ENV R_VERSION="4.4.1"
 ENV R_DOCKERFILE="verse_${R_VERSION}"
+# This is in the rocker script but will not run since ${NB_USER} already exists
+# Needed because rocker scripts set permissions based on the staff group
+RUN usermod -a -G staff "${NB_USER}"
 RUN PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin && \
   chmod +x ${REPO_DIR}/rocker.sh && \
   ${REPO_DIR}/rocker.sh
@@ -57,9 +60,7 @@ ONBUILD RUN echo "Checking for 'conda-lock.yml' or 'environment.yml'..." \
         ; if test -f "conda-lock.yml" ; then echo "Using conda-lock.yml" & \
         conda-lock install --name ${CONDA_ENV} \
         ; elif test -f "environment.yml" ; then echo "Using environment.yml" & \
-        mamba env create --name ${CONDA_ENV} -f environment.yml  \
-        ; else echo "No conda-lock.yml or environment.yml! *creating default env*" ; \
-        mamba create --name ${CONDA_ENV} pangeo-notebook \
+        mamba env update --name ${CONDA_ENV} -f environment.yml  \
         ; fi \
         && mamba clean -yaf \
         && find ${CONDA_DIR} -follow -type f -name '*.a' -delete \