diff --git a/debian/gitlab.postinst b/debian/gitlab.postinst
index 26dd923f36..eacd940c02 100755
--- a/debian/gitlab.postinst
+++ b/debian/gitlab.postinst
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ test -f ${gitlab_common_defaults} && . ${gitlab_common_defaults}
 # Read debian specific configuration
 #######################################################################
 
-test -f ${gitlab_debian_conf_private} || cp ${gitlab_debian_conf_example} ${gitlab_debian_conf_private}
+# Always copy the example configuration file in case there are newer entries
+# added by maintainer
+cp ${gitlab_debian_conf_example} ${gitlab_debian_conf_private}
 . ${gitlab_debian_conf_private}
 
 # If /etc/gitlab/gitlab-debian.conf is already present, use it