diff --git a/target/scripts/startup/setup-stack.sh b/target/scripts/startup/setup-stack.sh
index 72f45303..fc83e65e 100644
--- a/target/scripts/startup/setup-stack.sh
+++ b/target/scripts/startup/setup-stack.sh
@@ -1738,11 +1738,7 @@ function _setup_user_patches
   if [[ -f ${USER_PATCHES} ]]
   then
     _notify 'tasklog' 'Applying user patches'
-    if [[ ! -x ${USER_PATCHES} ]]; then
-      _notify 'inf' 'Making user patches script executable'
-      chmod +x "${USER_PATCHES}"
-    fi
-    ${USER_PATCHES}
+    bash "${USER_PATCHES}"
   else
     _notify 'inf' "No optional '/tmp/docker-mailserver/user-patches.sh' provided. Skipping."
   fi