diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 423aed3..40dab6f 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Use an official Python runtime as a parent image
-FROM python:3.9-slim
+FROM python:3.12-slim
 
 # Set the working directory in the container
 WORKDIR /app
@@ -10,25 +10,16 @@ COPY . /app
 # Install the Anki sync server
 RUN pip install anki
 
-# Set environment variables for the sync server (don't change)
+# Set environment variables for the sync server (do not change)
 ENV SYNC_BASE=/data
 ENV SYNC_HOST=0.0.0.0
 ENV SYNC_PORT=8080
 
-# Add user:
-# Add additional users via SYNC_USER2, SYNC_USER3, ...
-# Generate passwords via https://git.sr.ht/~laalsaas/pbkdf2-password-hash
-ENV SYNC_USER1=user:pass
-ENV PASSWORDS_HASHED=1
-
-# Set maximum request size (in MB)
-ENV MAX_SYNC_PAYLOAD_MEGS=100
+# Create the data directory
+RUN mkdir -p /data
 
 # Expose the port the sync server runs on
 EXPOSE 8080
 
-# Create the data directory
-RUN mkdir -p /data
-
-# Run the sync server
-CMD ["python", "-m", "anki.syncserver"]
+# Run the script to update the package and start the server
+CMD ["/app/start.sh"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b7631f4..8fd2ecb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,29 +1,38 @@
 # Anki Sync Server Docker Container
 
-This docker container simply wraps the official minimal sync server based on Python. More information can be found in the [official documentation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/anki-syncserver.html).
+This docker container simply wraps the official minimal sync server based on Python. More information can be found in the [official documentation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/sync-server.html).
 
 ## Configuration
 
-The docker container uses the same environmental variable as described in the [official documentation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/anki-syncserver.html). Some meaningful defaults are set. One might want to change the following environmental variables:
+The docker container uses the same environmental variable as described in the [official documentation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/sync-server.html). For more information, please consult it directly. The following environmental variables are bound to the container's setup and therefore, should not be changed:
 
-- `SYNC_USER1`: The username and password for the first user in the format `user:pass`.
-- Additional users can be created using `SYNC_USER2`, `SYNC_USER3`, ...
-- `PASSWORDS_HASHED`: Indicates if the passwords are hashed using [PBKDF2](https://git.sr.ht/~laalsaas/pbkdf2-password-hash) (default: `1`).
-- `MAX_SYNC_PAYLOAD_MEGS`: Maximum allowed request size in MB (default: `100`).
+- `SYNC_BASE`
+- `SYNC_HOST`
+- `SYNC_PORT`
+
+The following environmental variables has to be set outside of the container. Failing to do so, will abort the start of the container
 
+- `SYNC_USER1`: The username and password for the first user in the format `user:pass`.
 
 ## Running the Docker Container
 
 To start the Anki sync server in a Docker container:
 
 ```sh
-docker run -d --name anki-syncserver -p 8080:8080 -v ./data:/data ghcr.io/lorenzschmid/anki-syncserver
+docker run \
+  -d \
+  --name anki-syncserver \
+  -p 8080:8080 \
+  -v ./data:/data \
+  -e SYNC_USER1=user:pass \
+  ghcr.io/lorenzschmid/anki-syncserver
 ```
 
 - `-d`: Runs the container in detached mode.
 - `--name`: Assigns a name to the container (`anki-syncserver`).
 - `-p 8080:8080`: Maps port `8080` on the host to port `8080` in the container.
 - `-v ./data:/data`: Mounts the host directory `./data` to the container’s `/data` directory for data persistence.
+- `-e SYNC_USER1=user:pass`: Sets the `SYNC_USER1` environment variable to configure the sync server’s username and password.
 
 or via docker compose:
 
@@ -36,8 +45,6 @@ services:
     container_name: anki-syncserver
     environment:
       - SYNC_USER1=user:pass
-      - PASSWORDS_HASHED=1
-      - MAX_SYNC_PAYLOAD_MEGS=100
     ports:
       - "8080:8080"
     volumes:
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9de93f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# Ensure all stdout and stderr are sent to the Docker logs
+exec > >(tee -i /proc/1/fd/1) 2>&1
+
+# Check if SYNC_USER1 is set
+if [ -z "$SYNC_USER1" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: SYNC_USER1 environment variable is not set. Exiting."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Update the Anki sync server package
+echo "Updating Anki sync server package..."
+pip install --upgrade anki
+
+# Start the Anki sync server
+echo "Starting Anki sync server..."
+exec python -m anki.syncserver