diff --git a/cmd/up.go b/cmd/up.go
index b3c8760ce..fc553f2e1 100644
--- a/cmd/up.go
+++ b/cmd/up.go
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ func NewUpCmd(f *flags.GlobalFlags) *cobra.Command {
 	upCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "up",
 		Short: "Starts a new workspace",
+		PreRunE: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			absExtraDevContainerPaths := []string{}
+			for _, extraPath := range cmd.ExtraDevContainerPaths {
+				absExtraPath, err := filepath.Abs(extraPath)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+
+				absExtraDevContainerPaths = append(absExtraDevContainerPaths, absExtraPath)
+			}
+			cmd.ExtraDevContainerPaths = absExtraDevContainerPaths
+			return nil
+		},
 		RunE: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			devPodConfig, err := config.LoadConfig(cmd.Context, cmd.Provider)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -158,6 +171,7 @@ func NewUpCmd(f *flags.GlobalFlags) *cobra.Command {
 	upCmd.Flags().StringVar(&cmd.DevContainerImage, "devcontainer-image", "", "The container image to use, this will override the devcontainer.json value in the project")
 	upCmd.Flags().StringVar(&cmd.DevContainerPath, "devcontainer-path", "", "The path to the devcontainer.json relative to the project")
 	upCmd.Flags().StringVar(&cmd.DevContainerSource, "devcontainer-source", "", "External devcontainer.json source")
+	upCmd.Flags().StringArrayVar(&cmd.ExtraDevContainerPaths, "extra-devcontainer-path", []string{}, "The path to additional devcontainer.json files to override original devcontainer.json")
 	upCmd.Flags().StringVar(&cmd.EnvironmentTemplate, "environment-template", "", "Environment template to use")
 	_ = upCmd.Flags().MarkHidden("environment-template")
 	upCmd.Flags().StringArrayVar(&cmd.ProviderOptions, "provider-option", []string{}, "Provider option in the form KEY=VALUE")
diff --git a/docs/pages/developing-in-workspaces/create-a-workspace.mdx b/docs/pages/developing-in-workspaces/create-a-workspace.mdx
index 001852150..6e7d3c1b4 100644
--- a/docs/pages/developing-in-workspaces/create-a-workspace.mdx
+++ b/docs/pages/developing-in-workspaces/create-a-workspace.mdx
@@ -10,15 +10,20 @@ You can create a workspace either from the DevPod CLI or through the DevPod desk
 Upon successful creation, DevPod will make the development container available through the ssh host `WORKSPACE_NAME.devpod`. Alternatively, DevPod can automatically open the workspace in a locally installed IDE, such as VS Code or Intellij.
 
 :::info
-A workspace is defined through a `devcontainer.json`. If DevPod can't find one, it will automatically try to guess the programming language of your project and provide a fitting template.
+A workspace is defined through a `devcontainer.json`. If DevPod can’t find one, it will automatically try to guess the programming language of your project and provide a fitting template.
+:::
+
+:::info
+It is possible to override a `devcontainer.json` with specific user settings such as mounts by creating a file named  `devcontainer.user.json` in the same directory as the `devcontainer.json` of the workspace.
+This can be useful when customization of a versioned devcontainer is needed.
 :::
 
 ### Via DevPod Desktop Application
 
-Navigate to the 'Workspaces' view and click on the 'Create' button in the title. Enter the git repository you want to work on or select a local folder.
+Navigate to the ‘Workspaces’ view and click on the ‘Create’ button in the title. Enter the git repository you want to work on or select a local folder.
 
 :::info Add Provider
-If you haven't configured a provider yet, DevPod will automatically open the provider modal for you. You can later add providers in the same way by navigating to 'Providers' > 'Add'
+If you haven’t configured a provider yet, DevPod will automatically open the provider modal for you. You can later add providers in the same way by navigating to ‘Providers’ > ‘Add’
 :::
 
 You can also configure one of the additional settings:
@@ -34,19 +39,19 @@ Under the hood, the Desktop Application will call the CLI command `devpod up REP
 :::
 
 :::info Note
-You can set the location of your devpod home by passing the `--devpod-home={home_path}` flag, 
+You can set the location of your devpod home by passing the `--devpod-home={home_path}` flag,
 or by setting the env var `DEVPOD_HOME` to your desired home directory.
 
 This can be useful if you are having trouble with a workspace trying to mount to a windows location when it should be mounting to a path inside the WSL VM.
 
-For example: setting `devpod-home=/mnt/c/Users/MyUser/` will result in a workspace path of something like `/mnt/c/Users/MyUser/.devpod/contexts/default/workspaces/...`
+For example: setting `devpod-home=/mnt/c/Users/MyUser/` will result in a workspace path of something like `/mnt/c/Users/MyUser/.devpod/contexts/default/workspaces/…`
 :::
 
 ### Via DevPod CLI
 
 Make sure to [install the DevPod CLI locally](../getting-started/install.mdx#optional-install-devpod-cli) and select a provider you would like to host the workspace on (such as local docker) via:
 ```
-# Add a provider if you haven't already
+# Add a provider if you haven’t already
 devpod provider add docker
 ```
 
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@ devpod up ghcr.io/my-org/my-repo:latest
 DevPod will create the following `.devcontainer.json`:
 ```
 {
-    "image": "ghcr.io/my-org/my-repo:latest"
+    “image”: “ghcr.io/my-org/my-repo:latest”
 }
 ```
 
@@ -107,7 +112,7 @@ DevPod will create the following `.devcontainer.json`:
 
 If you have a local container running, you can create a workspace from it by running:
 ```
-devpod up my-workspace --source container:$CONTAINER_ID 
+devpod up my-workspace --source container:$CONTAINER_ID
 ```
 
 This only works with the `docker` provider.
@@ -124,7 +129,7 @@ When recreating a workspace, changes only to the project path or mounted volumes
 
 ### Via DevPod Desktop Application
 
-Navigate to the 'Workspaces' view and press on the 'More Options' button on the workspace you want to recreate. Then press 'Rebuild' and confirm to rebuild the workspace.
+Navigate to the ‘Workspaces’ view and press on the ‘More Options’ button on the workspace you want to recreate. Then press ‘Rebuild’ and confirm to rebuild the workspace.
 
 ### Via DevPod CLI
 
@@ -141,11 +146,11 @@ Some scenarios require pulling in the latest changes from a git repository or re
 
 ### Via DevPod Desktop Application
 
-Navigate to the 'Workspaces' view and press on the 'More Options' button on the workspace you want to reset. Then press 'Reset' and confirm.
+Navigate to the ‘Workspaces’ view and press on the ‘More Options’ button on the workspace you want to reset. Then press ‘Reset’ and confirm.
 
 ### Via DevPod CLI
 
 Run the following command to reset an existing workspace:
 ```
 devpod up my-workspace --reset
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```
diff --git a/pkg/devcontainer/compose.go b/pkg/devcontainer/compose.go
index 02499ee6e..16a6c7dea 100644
--- a/pkg/devcontainer/compose.go
+++ b/pkg/devcontainer/compose.go
@@ -197,6 +197,21 @@ func (r *runner) runDockerCompose(
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "get image metadata from container")
 	}
 
+	userConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerUserJSON(parsedConfig.Config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	} else if userConfig != nil {
+		config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(userConfig, imageMetadataConfig)
+	}
+
+	for _, v := range options.ExtraDevContainerPaths {
+		extraConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerJSONFile(v)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(extraConfig, imageMetadataConfig)
+	}
+
 	mergedConfig, err := config.MergeConfiguration(parsedConfig.Config, imageMetadataConfig.Config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "merge config")
@@ -332,6 +347,21 @@ func (r *runner) startContainer(
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "inspect image")
 		}
 
+		userConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerUserJSON(parsedConfig.Config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		} else if userConfig != nil {
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(userConfig, imageMetadata)
+		}
+
+		for _, v := range options.ExtraDevContainerPaths {
+			extraConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerJSONFile(v)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(extraConfig, imageMetadata)
+		}
+
 		mergedConfig, err := config.MergeConfiguration(parsedConfig.Config, imageMetadata.Config)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "merge configuration")
diff --git a/pkg/devcontainer/config/metadata.go b/pkg/devcontainer/config/metadata.go
index a0278b981..9c4275eba 100644
--- a/pkg/devcontainer/config/metadata.go
+++ b/pkg/devcontainer/config/metadata.go
@@ -12,3 +12,11 @@ type ImageMetadata struct {
 	DevContainerActions    `json:",inline"`
 	NonComposeBase         `json:",inline"`
 }
+
+func AddConfigToImageMetadata(config *DevContainerConfig, imageMetadataConfig *ImageMetadataConfig) {
+	userMetadata := &ImageMetadata{}
+	userMetadata.DevContainerConfigBase = config.DevContainerConfigBase
+	userMetadata.DevContainerActions = config.DevContainerActions
+	userMetadata.NonComposeBase = config.NonComposeBase
+	imageMetadataConfig.Config = append(imageMetadataConfig.Config, userMetadata)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/devcontainer/config/parse.go b/pkg/devcontainer/config/parse.go
index 68b1a79f5..7c13438a0 100644
--- a/pkg/devcontainer/config/parse.go
+++ b/pkg/devcontainer/config/parse.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
-	"dario.cat/mergo"
 	doublestar "github.com/bmatcuk/doublestar/v4"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/tidwall/jsonc"
@@ -68,33 +67,9 @@ func SaveDevContainerJSON(config *DevContainerConfig) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func ParseDevContainerJSON(folder, relativePath string) (*DevContainerConfig, error) {
-	path := ""
-	if relativePath != "" {
-		path = path2.Join(filepath.ToSlash(folder), relativePath)
-		_, err := os.Stat(path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("devcontainer path %s doesn't exist: %w", path, err)
-		}
-	} else {
-		path = filepath.Join(folder, ".devcontainer", "devcontainer.json")
-		_, err := os.Stat(path)
-		if err != nil {
-			path = filepath.Join(folder, ".devcontainer.json")
-			_, err = os.Stat(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				matches, err := doublestar.FilepathGlob(filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Clean(folder)) + "/.devcontainer/**/devcontainer.json")
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, err
-				} else if len(matches) == 0 {
-					return nil, nil
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
+func ParseDevContainerJSONFile(jsonFilePath string) (*DevContainerConfig, error) {
 	var err error
-	path, err = filepath.Abs(path)
+	path, err := filepath.Abs(jsonFilePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "make path absolute")
 	}
@@ -109,33 +84,54 @@ func ParseDevContainerJSON(folder, relativePath string) (*DevContainerConfig, er
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	devContainer.Origin = path
+	return replaceLegacy(devContainer)
+}
+
 
-	filename := filepath.Base(path)
+func ParseDevContainerUserJSON(config *DevContainerConfig) (*DevContainerConfig, error) {
+	filename := filepath.Base(config.Origin)
 	filename = strings.TrimSuffix(filename, filepath.Ext(filename))
 
-	userFilename := fmt.Sprintf("%s.user.json", filename)
-	userfilePath, err := filepath.Abs(filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(path), userFilename))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "make path absolute")
-	}
-	_, err = os.Stat(userfilePath)
+	devContainerUserUserFilename := fmt.Sprintf("%s.user.json", filename)
+	devContainerUserUserFilePath := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(config.Origin), devContainerUserUserFilename)
+
+	_, err = os.Stat(devContainerUserUserFilePath)
 	if err == nil {
-		bytes, err = os.ReadFile(userfilePath)
+		userConfig, err := ParseDevContainerJSONFile(devContainerUserUserFilePath)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		return userConfig, nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
 
-		devContainerUser := &DevContainerConfig{}
-		err = json.Unmarshal(jsonc.ToJSON(bytes), devContainerUser)
+func ParseDevContainerJSON(folder, relativePath string) (*DevContainerConfig, error) {
+	path := ""
+	if relativePath != "" {
+		path = path2.Join(filepath.ToSlash(folder), relativePath)
+		_, err := os.Stat(path)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("devcontainer path %s doesn't exist: %w", path, err)
 		}
-		if err := mergo.Merge(devContainer, devContainerUser, mergo.WithAppendSlice, mergo.WithOverride); err != nil {
-			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("unable to update devcontainer.json with %s", userFilename))
+	} else {
+		path = filepath.Join(folder, ".devcontainer", "devcontainer.json")
+		_, err := os.Stat(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			path = filepath.Join(folder, ".devcontainer.json")
+			_, err = os.Stat(path)
+			if err != nil {
+				matches, err := doublestar.FilepathGlob(filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Clean(folder)) + "/.devcontainer/**/devcontainer.json")
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				} else if len(matches) == 0 {
+					return nil, nil
+				}
+			}
 		}
 	}
-	devContainer.Origin = path
-	return replaceLegacy(devContainer)
+	return ParseDevContainerJSONFile(path)
 }
 
 func replaceLegacy(config *DevContainerConfig) (*DevContainerConfig, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/devcontainer/single.go b/pkg/devcontainer/single.go
index 8f9710187..77f63a8d9 100644
--- a/pkg/devcontainer/single.go
+++ b/pkg/devcontainer/single.go
@@ -61,6 +61,21 @@ func (r *runner) runSingleContainer(
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		userConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerUserJSON(parsedConfig.Config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		} else if userConfig != nil {
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(userConfig, imageMetadataConfig)
+		}
+
+		for _, v := range options.ExtraDevContainerPaths {
+			extraConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerJSONFile(v)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(extraConfig, imageMetadataConfig)
+		}
+
 		mergedConfig, err = config.MergeConfiguration(parsedConfig.Config, imageMetadataConfig.Config)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "merge config")
@@ -102,6 +117,21 @@ func (r *runner) runSingleContainer(
 			}
 		}
 
+		userConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerUserJSON(parsedConfig.Config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		} else if userConfig != nil {
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(userConfig, buildInfo.ImageMetadata)
+		}
+
+		for _, v := range options.ExtraDevContainerPaths {
+			extraConfig, err := config.ParseDevContainerJSONFile(v)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			config.AddConfigToImageMetadata(extraConfig, buildInfo.ImageMetadata)
+		}
+
 		// merge configuration
 		mergedConfig, err = config.MergeConfiguration(parsedConfig.Config, buildInfo.ImageMetadata.Config)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/provider/workspace.go b/pkg/provider/workspace.go
index 0477489b3..d41179a6a 100644
--- a/pkg/provider/workspace.go
+++ b/pkg/provider/workspace.go
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ type CLIOptions struct {
 	GitCloneStrategy          git.CloneStrategy `json:"gitCloneStrategy,omitempty"`
 	FallbackImage             string            `json:"fallbackImage,omitempty"`
 	GitSSHSigningKey          string            `json:"gitSshSigningKey,omitempty"`
+	ExtraDevContainerPaths    []string          `json:"extraDevContainerPaths,omitempty"`
 
 	// build options
 	Repository string   `json:"repository,omitempty"`