diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 4758522..3b0b10e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ FROM node:lts-slim
 ENV NODE_ENV=production
 WORKDIR /usr/src/app
 
+RUN apt update
+RUN DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt install wget -y
+
 # Copy package.json and package-lock.json separately to fully utilize Docker layer caching
 COPY package.json ./
 COPY package-lock.json ./
@@ -24,4 +27,4 @@ ENV NODE_ENV=production
 EXPOSE 3000
 
 # Start the app
-CMD ["npm", "start"]
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+CMD ["bash", "start.sh"]
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diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 14f76ad..58841d6 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ services:
       - 3000:3000
     volumes:
       - ./config.json:/usr/src/app/config.json:ro # The application config (Must be created before starting the service)
-      #- ./public:/usr/src/app/public:ro # Used for public facing images (uncomment if you are using your own images - see the public directory)
+      - ./public:/usr/src/app/public:rw # Used for public facing images (eg: avatar and background)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7be3b41..50ff9b0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "simple-links",
-  "version": "0.1.6",
+  "version": "0.1.7",
   "private": false,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev",
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8175ba4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+workDir=/usr/src/app
+
+baseUrl=https://git.fascinated.cc/Fascinated/simple-links/raw/branch/master/public/
+toDownload=("avatar.webp" "background.jpg")
+
+echo "Checking if files need to be downloaded"
+if [ -z "$(ls -A $workDir/public)" ]; then
+  echo "Some files are missing, downloading them"
+  if [ ! -w "$workDir" ]; then
+    # TODO: fix this. it doesn't seem to be working?
+    echo "The directory \"$workDir\" is not writeable, unable to download files. Please check your docker compose for :ro and set it to :rw"
+  fi
+  for item in "${toDownload[@]}"
+  do
+    dir=$workDir/public/$item
+    if [ ! -e "$dir" ]; then
+      echo "Downloading $item to directory $dir"
+      wget -q -P $dir $baseUrl$item
+      echo "Done"
+    fi
+  done
+  echo "Finished downloading files!"
+else
+  echo "All files are already present, no need to download"
+fi
+
+echo "Starting Simple Links..."
+npm start
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