diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7e2f3fe..fb8e96a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ The `witness` HTTP server is used along with Flask for all templates.
 Are you referencing pip modules which require a native build toolchain? It's advisable to use the template with a `-debian` suffix in this case. The Debian images are larger, however they are usually more efficient for use with modules like `numpy` and `pandas`.
 
 ## Python Versioning
+
 We try to keep the default Python 3 version up-to-date, however, you can specify a specific python version using the `PYTHON_VERSION` build argument.
 
 The current stable version of Python is 3.12, you might want to test the next pre-release using:
@@ -64,6 +65,8 @@ This can also be set using the `--build-arg` flag.
 faas-cli build --build-arg PYTHON_VERSION=3.12
 ```
 
+For the `-debian` templates, the `DEBIAN_OS` build_args is also available to specify the Debian version. The default is currently `bookworm`.
+
 ## Downloading the templates
 
 Using template pull with the repository's URL:
diff --git a/template/python3-flask-debian/Dockerfile b/template/python3-flask-debian/Dockerfile
index 9c685cb..e892432 100644
--- a/template/python3-flask-debian/Dockerfile
+++ b/template/python3-flask-debian/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.12
+ARG DEBIAN_OS=slim-bookworm
 FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} ghcr.io/openfaas/of-watchdog:0.10.4 AS watchdog
-FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-buster AS build
+FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-${DEBIAN_OS} AS build
 
 COPY --from=watchdog /fwatchdog /usr/bin/fwatchdog
 RUN chmod +x /usr/bin/fwatchdog
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ RUN apt-get -qy update \
 
 # Add non root user
 RUN addgroup --system app && adduser app --system --ingroup app
-RUN chown app /home/app
+RUN mkdir -p /home/app && chown app /home/app
 
 USER app
 
diff --git a/template/python3-http-debian/Dockerfile b/template/python3-http-debian/Dockerfile
index 73bdb54..af05c8f 100644
--- a/template/python3-http-debian/Dockerfile
+++ b/template/python3-http-debian/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.12
+ARG DEBIAN_OS=slim-bookworm
 FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} ghcr.io/openfaas/of-watchdog:0.10.4 AS watchdog
-FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-slim-buster AS build
+FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-${DEBIAN_OS} AS build
 
 COPY --from=watchdog /fwatchdog /usr/bin/fwatchdog
 RUN chmod +x /usr/bin/fwatchdog
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ RUN apt-get -qy update \
 
 # Add non root user
 RUN addgroup --system app && adduser app --system --ingroup app
-RUN chown app /home/app
+RUN mkdir -p /home/app && chown app /home/app
 
 USER app