diff --git a/scripts/config-merger.sh b/scripts/config-merger.sh
index 264dfed..d8b74a0 100755
--- a/scripts/config-merger.sh
+++ b/scripts/config-merger.sh
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ NODE_ROLES=${NODE_ROLES:-""}
 # Make a list of roles
 IFS=',' read -ra ROLES <<<"$NODE_ROLES"
 
-echo "changing the ownership of data folder: /usr/share/opensearch/data"
-chown -R "$ELASTICSEARCH_UID":"$ELASTICSEARCH_UID" /usr/share/opensearch/data
+if [[ "$(id -u)" == "0" ]]; then
+      echo "changing the ownership of data folder: /usr/share/opensearch/data"
+      chown -R "$ELASTICSEARCH_UID":"$ELASTICSEARCH_UID" /usr/share/opensearch/data
+fi
 
 # load default config files to config directory
 cp -f -R $DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR/* $CONFIG_DIR
@@ -103,9 +105,6 @@ for FILE_DIR in "$CONFIG_DIR"/*; do
             fi
         done
     fi
-
-    # restore original file permission
-    chmod "$ORIGINAL_PERMISSION" "$FILE_DIR"
 done
 
 ##-------------------------------OpenSearch----------------------------------
@@ -191,8 +190,5 @@ if [ -d $SECURITY_CONFIG_DIR ]; then
                 fi
             done
         fi
-
-        # restore original file permission
-        chmod "$ORIGINAL_PERMISSION" "$FILE_DIR"
     done
 fi
diff --git a/scripts/dashboard-config-merger.sh b/scripts/dashboard-config-merger.sh
index 2e142d7..47d2bce 100755
--- a/scripts/dashboard-config-merger.sh
+++ b/scripts/dashboard-config-merger.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,4 @@ for FILE_DIR in "$CONFIG_DIR"/*; do
 
     fi
 
-    # restore original file permission
-    chmod "$ORIGINAL_PERMISSION" "$FILE_DIR"
 done
\ No newline at end of file