diff --git a/acceptance/testdata/node_app/mydir/myfile.txt b/acceptance/testdata/node_app/mydir/myfile.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f52de0264
--- /dev/null
+++ b/acceptance/testdata/node_app/mydir/myfile.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+file in subdir
diff --git a/build.go b/build.go
index 706c315e4..a953d6771 100644
--- a/build.go
+++ b/build.go
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ func (b *BuildFlags) Detect() (*lifecycle.BuildpackGroup, error) {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "copy app to workspace volume")
 	}
 
+	if err := b.chownDir("/workspace/app", uid, gid); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "chown app to workspace volume")
+	}
+
 	if err := b.Cli.RunContainer(ctx, ctr.ID, b.Stdout, b.Stderr); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "run detect container")
 	}
@@ -325,6 +329,27 @@ func (b *BuildFlags) packUidGid(builder string) (int, int, error) {
 	return uid, gid, nil
 }
 
+func (b *BuildFlags) chownDir(path string, uid, gid int) error {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	ctr, err := b.Cli.ContainerCreate(ctx, &container.Config{
+		Image: b.Builder,
+		Cmd:   []string{"chown", "-R", fmt.Sprintf("%d:%d", uid, gid), path},
+		User:  "root",
+	}, &container.HostConfig{
+		Binds: []string{
+			b.WorkspaceVolume + ":/workspace",
+		},
+	}, nil, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer b.Cli.ContainerRemove(ctx, ctr.ID, dockertypes.ContainerRemoveOptions{})
+	if err := b.Cli.RunContainer(ctx, ctr.ID, b.Stdout, b.Stderr); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (b *BuildFlags) exportVolume(image, volName string) (string, func(), error) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctr, err := b.Cli.ContainerCreate(ctx, &container.Config{
diff --git a/build_test.go b/build_test.go
index 292e66a2e..99d7ab9e6 100644
--- a/build_test.go
+++ b/build_test.go
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ func testBuild(t *testing.T, when spec.G, it spec.S) {
 	})
 
 	when("#Detect", func() {
-		it("copies the app in to docker and chowns it", func() {
+		it("copies the app in to docker and chowns it (including directories)", func() {
 			_, err := subject.Detect()
 			assertNil(t, err)
 
-			for _, name := range []string{"/workspace/app", "/workspace/app/app.js"} {
+			for _, name := range []string{"/workspace/app", "/workspace/app/app.js", "/workspace/app/mydir", "/workspace/app/mydir/myfile.txt"} {
 				txt, err := exec.Command("docker", "run", "-v", subject.WorkspaceVolume+":/workspace", subject.Builder, "ls", "-ld", name).Output()
 				assertNil(t, err)
 				assertContains(t, string(txt), "pack pack")