diff --git a/config/gitlab.yml.example b/config/gitlab.yml.example
index 76dc6214..19563584 100644
--- a/config/gitlab.yml.example
+++ b/config/gitlab.yml.example
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ gitlab:
   ## Project settings
   default_projects_limit: 10
 
+  ## Account used for GitLab installation ('gitlab' if undefined)
+  user: gitlab
+
 ## Gravatar
 gravatar:
   enabled: true                 # Use user avatar images from Gravatar.com (default: true)
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ gitolite:
   receive_pack: true
   ssh_user: git
   ssh_host: localhost
+  group: git # default: 'git' if undefined
   # ssh_port: 22
   # config_file: gitolite.conf
 
diff --git a/config/initializers/1_settings.rb b/config/initializers/1_settings.rb
index 6b47a9cc..cd03dd87 100644
--- a/config/initializers/1_settings.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/1_settings.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ Settings.gitlab['relative_url_root'] ||= ''
 Settings.gitlab['protocol']   ||= Settings.gitlab.https ? "https" : "http"
 Settings.gitlab['email_from'] ||= "gitlab@#{Settings.gitlab.host}"
 Settings.gitlab['url']        ||= Settings.send(:build_gitlab_url)
+Settings.gitlab['user']        ||= 'gitlab'
 
 Settings['gravatar'] ||= Settingslogic.new({})
 Settings.gravatar['enabled']    ||= true
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ Settings.gitolite['upload_pack']  ||= (Settings.gitolite['upload_pack'] != false
 Settings.gitolite['ssh_host']     ||= (Settings.gitlab.host || 'localhost')
 Settings.gitolite['ssh_port']     ||= 22
 Settings.gitolite['ssh_user']     ||= 'git'
+Settings.gitolite['group']        ||= 'git'
 Settings.gitolite['ssh_path_prefix'] ||= Settings.send(:build_gitolite_ssh_path_prefix)
 
 Settings['backup'] ||= Settingslogic.new({})
diff --git a/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake b/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
index 623028b1..3d9c9f4c 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
@@ -295,15 +295,16 @@ namespace :gitlab do
     end
 
     def check_gitlab_in_git_group
-      gitolite_ssh_user = Gitlab.config.gitolite.ssh_user
-      print "gitlab user is in #{gitolite_ssh_user} group? ... "
+      gitlab_user = Gitlab.config.gitlab.user
+      gitolite_group = Gitlab.config.gitolite.group
+      print "gitlab user '#{gitlab_user}' has git group '#{gitolite_group}'? ... "
 
-      if run_and_match("id -rnG", /\Wgit\W/)
+      if run_and_match("id -rnG", /^#{gitolite_group}\W|\W#{gitolite_group}\W|\W#{gitolite_group}$/)
         puts "yes".green
       else
         puts "no".red
         try_fixing_it(
-          "sudo usermod -a -G #{gitolite_ssh_user} gitlab"
+          "sudo usermod -a -G #{gitolite_group} #{gitlab_user}"
         )
         for_more_information(
           see_installation_guide_section "System Users"