diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile-simtools-dev b/docker/Dockerfile-simtools-dev
index 8b62ead814..678c596a90 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile-simtools-dev
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile-simtools-dev
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ RUN { \
     printf '%s\n' "fi"; \
     printf '%s\n' "git config --global --add safe.directory \"/workdir\""; \
     printf '%s\n' "git config --global --add safe.directory \"/workdir/external\""; \
+    printf '%s\n' "git config --global --add safe.directory \"/workdir/external/simtools\""; \
 } > /etc/profile.d/git_safe_dir.sh
 
 # Install simtools (main branch)
diff --git a/docker/README.md b/docker/README.md
index 694300e059..e8250fc685 100644
--- a/docker/README.md
+++ b/docker/README.md
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@ See the [simtools container documentation](https://gammasim.github.io/simtools/u
 For convenience, the command to use a container as developer is repeated here:
 
 ```bash
-podman run --rm -it -v "$(pwd)/:/workdir/external" ghcr.io/gammasim/simtools-dev:latest bash -c "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
+podman run --rm -it -v "$(pwd)/:/workdir/external" ghcr.io/gammasim/simtools-dev:latest bash -lc "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
 ```
 
 In case a local database is used:
 
 ```bash
-podman run --rm -it -v "$(pwd)/:/workdir/external" --network simtools-mongo-network ghcr.io/gammasim/simtools-dev:latest bash -c "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
+podman run --rm -it -v "$(pwd)/:/workdir/external" --network simtools-mongo-network ghcr.io/gammasim/simtools-dev:latest bash -lc "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
 ```
diff --git a/docs/changes/2091.api.md b/docs/changes/2091.api.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..778f6849c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changes/2091.api.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Update command to run development container: **use bash -lc** (related to updates to git safedir).
diff --git a/docs/source/developer-guide/getting_started_as_developer.md b/docs/source/developer-guide/getting_started_as_developer.md
index edca19c0b2..296fb6cfac 100644
--- a/docs/source/developer-guide/getting_started_as_developer.md
+++ b/docs/source/developer-guide/getting_started_as_developer.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ The following steps outline how to set up the development environment using cont
     ```bash
     podman run --rm -it -v "$(pwd)/external:/workdir/external" \
         ghcr.io/gammasim/simtools-dev:latest \
-        bash -c "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
+        bash -lc "source /workdir/env/bin/activate && cd /workdir/external/simtools && pip install -e . && bash"
     ```
 
     The container includes a CORSIKA and sim_telarray installation;