diff --git a/scripts/docker/mongo-image/scripts/01_init_db.js b/scripts/docker/mongo-image/scripts/01_init_db.js
index 592a0dc743f9abc4cdf900f354da6ba46aa71e27..5d8a50debe5da957dab74a3cbe3bad0971fb5b00 100644
--- a/scripts/docker/mongo-image/scripts/01_init_db.js
+++ b/scripts/docker/mongo-image/scripts/01_init_db.js
@@ -221,3 +221,29 @@ function generatePassword() {
     true /* upsert */
   );
 });
+
+[
+  // Create the backing bridge user for local developers (gitterBridgeBackingUsername)
+  {
+    username: 'gitter-badger',
+    displayName: 'The Gitter Badger',
+    githubId: 8518239,
+    gravatarVersion: '4',
+    gravatarImageUrl: 'https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/8518239?v=4',
+    identities: []
+  }
+].forEach(function(d) {
+  printjson({ username: d.username });
+  db.users.update(
+    { username: d.username },
+    {
+      username: d.username,
+      displayName: d.displayName,
+      githubId: d.githubId,
+      gravatarVersion: d.gravatarVersion,
+      gravatarImageUrl: d.gravatarImageUrl,
+      identities: d.identities
+    },
+    true /* upsert */
+  );
+});