diff --git a/examples/customized_docker_image/Dockerfile b/examples/customized_docker_image/Dockerfile
index ec825e8..1f71b88 100644
--- a/examples/customized_docker_image/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/customized_docker_image/Dockerfile
@@ -9,4 +9,6 @@ ENV CELLXGENE_DATA=/cellxgene-data
 ENV CELLXGENE_LOCATION=/usr/local/bin/cellxgene
 EXPOSE 5005
 
+RUN mkdir /cellxgene-data
+
 CMD ["cellxgene-gateway"]
diff --git a/examples/customized_docker_image/README.md b/examples/customized_docker_image/README.md
index 800862b..b88dcae 100644
--- a/examples/customized_docker_image/README.md
+++ b/examples/customized_docker_image/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ This is a simple example of how to make a small script to customize the UI of ce
 
 ```
 docker build -t cellxgene_custom .
-docker run -p 5005:5005 cellxgene_custom
+CELLXGENE_DATA=`pwd`/../../../cellxgene_data
+docker run -p 5005:5005 --mount src=$CELLXGENE_DATA,target=/cellxgene-data,type=bind cellxgene_custom
 ```
 
 If you now open http://localhost:5005 you should see a green cellxgene gateway header.