diff --git a/pkg/util/command_util.go b/pkg/util/command_util.go
index 9b896c8adf..8c4af2272c 100644
--- a/pkg/util/command_util.go
+++ b/pkg/util/command_util.go
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ Loop:
 
 func GetUserGroup(chownStr string, env []string) (int64, int64, error) {
 	if chownStr == "" {
-		return 0, 0, nil
+		return DoNotChangeUID, DoNotChangeGID, nil
 	}
 
 	chown, err := ResolveEnvironmentReplacement(chownStr, env, false)
diff --git a/pkg/util/command_util_test.go b/pkg/util/command_util_test.go
index a6d9ea7a7c..180bff4c43 100644
--- a/pkg/util/command_util_test.go
+++ b/pkg/util/command_util_test.go
@@ -571,8 +571,8 @@ func TestGetUserGroup(t *testing.T) {
 			mockIDGetter: func(string, string) (uint32, uint32, error) {
 				return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf("should not be called")
 			},
-			expectedU: 0,
-			expectedG: 0,
+			expectedU: -1,
+			expectedG: -1,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range tests {