diff --git a/consul-bootstrap.sh b/consul-bootstrap.sh
index 7ce2571..36c5bee 100755
--- a/consul-bootstrap.sh
+++ b/consul-bootstrap.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ elif [ "$#" -eq 1 ] && [ "$1" == "-h" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# create consul user
+useradd --system --home /etc/consul.d --shell /bin/false consul
+
 # create directory if doesn't exist and set permissions
 mkdir -p /etc/consul.d/ && chown -R consul:consul /etc/consul.d/