diff --git a/container_files/usr-local-bin/containerPing b/container_files/usr-local-bin/containerPing
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..18b7080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/container_files/usr-local-bin/containerPing
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+prep_daemon
+prep_finish
+setupFiles
+runCommand_unsetAll
+
+export GSH_JVMARGS="$GSH_JVMARGS -DENV=$ENV -DUSERTOKEN=$USERTOKEN"
+
+# sample command every 10 minutes, just a ping to keep container running, for testing
+/usr/bin/ping -i 600 google.com
diff --git a/container_files/usr-local-bin/gsh b/container_files/usr-local-bin/gsh
index a982683..27b5696 100755
--- a/container_files/usr-local-bin/gsh
+++ b/container_files/usr-local-bin/gsh
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ export GSH_JVMARGS="$GSH_JVMARGS -DENV=$ENV -DUSERTOKEN=$USERTOKEN"
 set -o pipefail
 
 # openshift cannot do whoami
-if [ "$GROUPER_GSH_CHECK_USER" = "true"  ] && [ "$GROUPER_GSH_USER" != "$(whoami)" ]
+if [ "$GROUPER_GSH_USER" != "$(whoami)" ] && [ $EUID -eq 0 ]
   then
-    echo "grouperContainer; INFO: (gsh file) sudo --preserve-env -u tomcat bin/gsh.sh \"$@\" | tee /tmp/loggrouper"
+    echo "grouperContainer; INFO: (gsh file) sudo --preserve-env -u $GROUPER_GSH_USER bin/gsh.sh \"$@\" | tee /tmp/loggrouper"
     sudo --preserve-env -u tomcat bin/gsh.sh "$@" | tee /tmp/loggrouper
   else 
     echo "grouperContainer; INFO: (gsh file) bin/gsh.sh \"$@\" | tee /tmp/loggrouper"