diff --git a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/Dockerfile b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/Dockerfile
index f7a403a..14924ef 100644
--- a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/Dockerfile
+++ b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/Dockerfile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
  locales \
  netcat \
  openssh-server \
+ rsync \
  screen \
  vim \
  && apt-get clean
@@ -18,8 +19,8 @@ RUN groupadd -r -g 1000 irssi \
 
 WORKDIR /home/irssi
 COPY init.sh /
-COPY etc /etc
-RUN echo 'AuthorizedKeysFile .ssh/authorized_keys /etc/ssh/authorized_keys' >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config \
- && chmod 644 /etc/screenrc \
+COPY etc /etc/
+COPY home /home/
+RUN chmod 644 /etc/screenrc \
  && mkdir /etc/ssh_keys
 ENTRYPOINT ["/init.sh"]
diff --git a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/etc/ssh/authorized_keys b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/home/pippijn/.ssh/authorized_keys
similarity index 100%
rename from code/kubes/vps/irssi/etc/ssh/authorized_keys
rename to code/kubes/vps/irssi/home/pippijn/.ssh/authorized_keys
diff --git a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/init.sh b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/init.sh
index b9c0e18..621fa15 100755
--- a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/init.sh
+++ b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/init.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,17 @@ fi
 ln -sf /etc/ssh_keys/* /etc/ssh/
 touch /etc/ssh_keys/.stamp
 
+# Make "irssi" user accessible for the VPS owner. Run this command as the
+# irssi user, otherwise root may change file ownership.
+if [ ! -f .ssh/authorized_keys ]; then
+  echo "Copying initial home for $IRSSI_USER"
+  su - irssi -c "rsync -avrP /home/$IRSSI_USER/ /home/irssi"
+fi
+
+# Start screen for "irssi" user. It's up to the user what that does exactly,
+# but the default /etc/screenrc launches irssi.
 su - irssi -c 'screen -d -m'
+
 while true; do
   echo "Starting health endpoint"
   # TODO: implement actual health check
diff --git a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/irssi.yaml b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/irssi.yaml
index 1e09ee0..37ed6c1 100644
--- a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/irssi.yaml
+++ b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/irssi.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ spec:
         - name: irssi
           image: xinutec/irssi:latest
           imagePullPolicy: Always
+          env:
+          - name: IRSSI_USER
+            value: pippijn
           ports:
             - containerPort: 22
           resources:
diff --git a/code/kubes/vps/irssi/test.sh b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7b13d21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/kubes/vps/irssi/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+set -eux
+
+docker build -t xinutec/irssi:test .
+docker run \
+  --name irssi-test \
+  --rm \
+  -p 2345:22 \
+  --env IRSSI_USER=pippijn \
+  -it xinutec/irssi:test