diff --git a/29/apache/Dockerfile b/29/apache/Dockerfile
index 962f1bca..6aa4d6c0 100644
--- a/29/apache/Dockerfile
+++ b/29/apache/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/29/apache/entrypoint.sh b/29/apache/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/29/apache/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/29/apache/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/29/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile b/29/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
index 937ae5dc..b3e72848 100644
--- a/29/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
+++ b/29/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/29/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh b/29/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/29/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/29/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/29/fpm/Dockerfile b/29/fpm/Dockerfile
index 2d5ff91a..ad1933ff 100644
--- a/29/fpm/Dockerfile
+++ b/29/fpm/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/29/fpm/entrypoint.sh b/29/fpm/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/29/fpm/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/29/fpm/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/30/apache/Dockerfile b/30/apache/Dockerfile
index 31d62217..ce637572 100644
--- a/30/apache/Dockerfile
+++ b/30/apache/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/30/apache/entrypoint.sh b/30/apache/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/30/apache/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/30/apache/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/30/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile b/30/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
index 09e10d33..10584886 100644
--- a/30/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
+++ b/30/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/30/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh b/30/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/30/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/30/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/30/fpm/Dockerfile b/30/fpm/Dockerfile
index 8cbb07d3..48c6d5d0 100644
--- a/30/fpm/Dockerfile
+++ b/30/fpm/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/30/fpm/entrypoint.sh b/30/fpm/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/30/fpm/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/30/fpm/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/31/apache/Dockerfile b/31/apache/Dockerfile
index 6421c7b0..23abebd9 100644
--- a/31/apache/Dockerfile
+++ b/31/apache/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/31/apache/entrypoint.sh b/31/apache/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/31/apache/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/31/apache/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/31/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile b/31/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
index a20a12e8..b590b88e 100644
--- a/31/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
+++ b/31/fpm-alpine/Dockerfile
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/31/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh b/31/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/31/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/31/fpm-alpine/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/31/fpm/Dockerfile b/31/fpm/Dockerfile
index 92f3935c..9f6f73db 100644
--- a/31/fpm/Dockerfile
+++ b/31/fpm/Dockerfile
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/31/fpm/entrypoint.sh b/31/fpm/entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/31/fpm/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/31/fpm/entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi
 
diff --git a/Dockerfile-alpine.template b/Dockerfile-alpine.template
index cf6af0ff..c345920f 100644
--- a/Dockerfile-alpine.template
+++ b/Dockerfile-alpine.template
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/Dockerfile-debian.template b/Dockerfile-debian.template
index cadae18a..72779c50 100644
--- a/Dockerfile-debian.template
+++ b/Dockerfile-debian.template
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ RUN { \
     } > "${PHP_INI_DIR}/conf.d/nextcloud.ini"; \
     \
     mkdir /var/www/data; \
-    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
+    mkdir -p /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization \
+             /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade \
              /docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-upgrade \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7de62124..45ca73a0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -362,8 +362,9 @@ As long as you have not modified any of the provided config files in `/var/www/h
 
 ## Auto configuration via hook folders
 
-There are 5 hooks
+There are 6 hooks
 
+- `pre-initialization` Executed before the need to update or install Nextcloud is determined
 - `pre-installation` Executed before the Nextcloud is installed/initiated
 - `post-installation` Executed after the Nextcloud is installed/initiated
 - `pre-upgrade` Executed before the Nextcloud is upgraded
@@ -383,6 +384,7 @@ To use the hooks triggered by the `entrypoint` script, either
     image: nextcloud:stable
 
     volumes:
+      - ./app-hooks/pre-initialization:/docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-initialization
       - ./app-hooks/pre-installation:/docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-installation
       - ./app-hooks/post-installation:/docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/post-installation
       - ./app-hooks/pre-upgrade:/docker-entrypoint-hooks.d/pre-upgrade
@@ -391,6 +393,16 @@ To use the hooks triggered by the `entrypoint` script, either
 ...
 ```
 
+## Forcing an upgrade run
+
+Sometimes you need to force an explicit upgrade run even when the bundled Nextcloud version did not change.
+An example would be when you have custom apps bundled and you want to update those.
+
+To do this, you can simply create a file `/tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization` before the need for an upgrade is determined.
+The content is irrelevant.
+You can either create this file before starting the container, or you can use the `pre-initialization` hook to create it.
+After the update has successfully run, the file is removed automatically.
+
 # Running this image with `docker compose`
 The easiest way to get a fully featured and functional setup is using a `compose.yaml` file. There are too many different possibilities to setup your system, so here are only some examples of what you have to look for.
 
diff --git a/docker-entrypoint.sh b/docker-entrypoint.sh
index e3b88f14..5a30e868 100755
--- a/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             flock 9
         fi
 
+        run_path pre-initialization
+
         installed_version="0.0.0.0"
         if [ -f /var/www/html/version.php ]; then
             # shellcheck disable=SC2016
@@ -169,7 +171,18 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
             exit 1
         fi
 
+        need_initialization=false
+
         if version_greater "$image_version" "$installed_version"; then
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+            echo Found /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization, forcing initialization
+            need_initialization=true
+        fi
+
+        if [ "true" = "$need_initialization" ]; then
             echo "Initializing nextcloud $image_version ..."
             if [ "$installed_version" != "0.0.0.0" ]; then
                 if [ "${image_version%%.*}" -gt "$((${installed_version%%.*} + 1))" ]; then
@@ -263,7 +276,7 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                         fi
 
                         run_path post-installation
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
 		# not enough specified to do a fully automated installation 
                 if [ "$install" = false ]; then 
@@ -284,6 +297,10 @@ if expr "$1" : "apache" 1>/dev/null || [ "$1" = "php-fpm" ] || [ "${NEXTCLOUD_UP
                 run_path post-upgrade
             fi
 
+            if [ -f /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization ]; then
+                rm /tmp/nextcloud-force-initialization
+            fi
+
             echo "Initializing finished"
         fi