diff --git a/elements/local-config/README.rst b/elements/local-config/README.rst
index 80a88d502..4e3eb8774 100644
--- a/elements/local-config/README.rst
+++ b/elements/local-config/README.rst
@@ -3,3 +3,11 @@ local-config
 ============
 Copies local user settings such as .ssh/authorized\_keys and $http\_proxy into
 the image.
+
+Environment Variables
+---------------------
+
+DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME
+  :Required: No
+  :Default: root
+  :Description: Username used when installing .ssh/authorized\_keys.
diff --git a/elements/local-config/environment.d/62-ssh-key b/elements/local-config/environment.d/62-ssh-key
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cdb33da28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/local-config/environment.d/62-ssh-key
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME=${DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME:-root}
diff --git a/elements/local-config/install.d/62-ssh-key b/elements/local-config/install.d/62-ssh-key
index c66328a55..d8a9db179 100755
--- a/elements/local-config/install.d/62-ssh-key
+++ b/elements/local-config/install.d/62-ssh-key
@@ -8,9 +8,15 @@ fi
 set -eu
 set -o pipefail
 
-if [ -e "/tmp/in_target.d/ssh-authorized-keys" ]; then
-    mkdir -p /root/.ssh
-    cat /tmp/in_target.d/ssh-authorized-keys >> /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
-    chmod 0700 /root/.ssh
-    chmod 0600 /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
+if [ "$DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME" == "root" ]; then
+    DIR_NAME=${DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME}
+else
+    DIR_NAME=home/${DIB_LOCAL_CONFIG_USERNAME}
+fi
+
+if [ -e "/tmp/in_target.d/ssh-authorized-keys" ]; then
+    mkdir -p /${DIR_NAME}/.ssh
+    cat /tmp/in_target.d/ssh-authorized-keys >> /${DIR_NAME}/.ssh/authorized_keys
+    chmod 0700 /${DIR_NAME}/.ssh
+    chmod 0600 /${DIR_NAME}/.ssh/authorized_keys
 fi