diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE
index 810d4905..e1ae10c6 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 <!-- What is this pull request for? Does it fix any issues? -->
 
 ## Checklist
-- [] If code changes were made, then they have been tested
-- [] I have updated the documentation to reflect any changes made
-- [] I have thought about how this code may affect other services
-- [] This PR fixes an issue
-- [] This PR is a breaking change (e.g. method, parameters, env variables)
-- [] This PR adds something new (e.g. method, parameters, env variables)
-- [] This PR change unit and integration tests
-- [] This PR is **NOT** a code change (e.g. documentation, packages)
+- [ ] If code changes were made, then they have been tested
+- [ ] I have updated the documentation to reflect any changes made
+- [ ] I have thought about how this code may affect other services
+- [ ] This PR fixes an issue
+- [ ] This PR is a breaking change (e.g. method, parameters, env variables)
+- [ ] This PR adds something new (e.g. method, parameters, env variables)
+- [ ] This PR change unit and integration tests
+- [ ] This PR is **NOT** a code change (e.g. documentation, packages)
 
 ## Reviewer
-- [] I understand that approving this code, I am also responsible for it going into the codebase
+- [ ] I understand that approving this code, I am also responsible for it going into the codebase
diff --git a/utilities/start.sh b/utilities/start.sh
index cab1c2ab..dbadbfb8 100644
--- a/utilities/start.sh
+++ b/utilities/start.sh
@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@ docker compose down
 docker images 'discordbot*' -a -q | xargs -r docker rmi -f
 docker compose up -d --build --force-recreate
 
+# ensure logs dir is writable by container's botuser (uid 1000)
+sudo chmod 755 "$PROJECT_DIR/logs"
+sudo chown 1000:1000 "$PROJECT_DIR/logs"
+
 popd > /dev/null