diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index c3974261a..605e66092 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.66.0~rc1+nmu1) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+
+  * Allocate a group for the system user.
+
+ -- Jörg Behrmann <behrmann@physik.fu-berlin.de>  Tue, 23 Aug 2022 17:17:00 +0100
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.66.0~rc1) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New Synapse release 1.66.0rc1.
diff --git a/debian/matrix-synapse-py3.postinst b/debian/matrix-synapse-py3.postinst
index 029b9e024..3c72b69bb 100644
--- a/debian/matrix-synapse-py3.postinst
+++ b/debian/matrix-synapse-py3.postinst
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ EOF
     /opt/venvs/matrix-synapse/lib/manage_debconf.pl update
 
     if ! getent passwd $USER >/dev/null; then
-      adduser --quiet --system --no-create-home --home /var/lib/matrix-synapse $USER
+      adduser --quiet --system --group --no-create-home --home /var/lib/matrix-synapse $USER
     fi
 
     for DIR in /var/lib/matrix-synapse /var/log/matrix-synapse /etc/matrix-synapse; do
       if ! dpkg-statoverride --list --quiet $DIR >/dev/null; then
-        dpkg-statoverride --force --quiet --update --add $USER nogroup 0755 $DIR
+        dpkg-statoverride --force --quiet --update --add $USER "$(id -gn $USER)" 0755 $DIR
       fi
     done