diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index eb52f33..ceb3d2d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## {{ UNRELEASED_VERSION }} - [{{ UNRELEASED_DATE }}]({{ UNRELEASED_LINK }})
 
+* Fixed xdebug log file ownership issue when `build_as_root` or `run_as_root` creates `/tmp/xdebug.log` as root [#242](https://github.com/lando/php/pull/242)
+
 ## v1.11.2 - [February 25, 2026](https://github.com/lando/php/releases/tag/v1.11.2)
 
 * Fixed composer install crash caused by legacy prestissimo removal running as wrong user
diff --git a/builders/php.js b/builders/php.js
index 8a63dfc..5745f1b 100644
--- a/builders/php.js
+++ b/builders/php.js
@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ module.exports = {
         options.composer_version = options.composer_version.toString();
       }
 
+      // Pre-create xdebug log with world-writable permissions so root-owned builds
+      // don't block www-data from writing to it later
+      addBuildStep(['touch /tmp/xdebug.log && chmod 666 /tmp/xdebug.log'], options._app, options.name, 'build_as_root_internal');
+
       // Add build step to enable xdebug
       if (options.xdebug) {
         addBuildStep(['docker-php-ext-enable xdebug'], options._app, options.name, 'build_as_root_internal');