diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/__init__.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/__init__.py
index 8ad2ea35..ea192a07 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/__init__.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/__init__.py
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool) -> None:
         if build_dir:
             www_path = build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
         # if it is not a hugo page, upload it as is
-        files.rsync(f"{www_path}/", "/var/www/html", flags=["-avz"])
+        files.rsync(f"{www_path}/", "/var/www/html", flags=["-avz", "--chown=www-data"])
 
     _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(config)
     debug = False