diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 29584e611..4dfc865d5 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ ADD ./Gemfile /rails_app/
 ADD ./Gemfile.lock /rails_app/
 
 RUN bundle config --global jobs `cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep processor | wc -l | xargs -I % expr % - 1`
+
+# run gem update system so installation of mini_racer does not fail
+# See troubleshooting for mini_racer and supported ruby versions: https://github.com/rubyjs/mini_racer?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-ruby-versions--troubleshooting
+# pinning gem update to 3.4.22 since anything higher requires updating Ruby version to 3+
+RUN gem i "rubygems-update:~>3.4.22" --no-document && update_rubygems
 RUN bundle install --without development test
 
 ADD ./ /rails_app
diff --git a/Dockerfile.dev b/Dockerfile.dev
index fa67743c9..d9c7190ff 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.dev
+++ b/Dockerfile.dev
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ ADD ./Gemfile /rails_app/
 ADD ./Gemfile.lock /rails_app/
 
 RUN bundle config --global jobs `cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep processor | wc -l | xargs -I % expr % - 1`
+
+# run `gem update system` so installation of mini_racer does not fail
+# See troubleshooting for mini_racer and supported ruby versions: https://github.com/rubyjs/mini_racer?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-ruby-versions--troubleshooting
+# pinning gem update to 3.4.22 since anything higher requires updating Ruby version to 3+
+RUN gem i "rubygems-update:~>3.4.22" --no-document && update_rubygems
 RUN bundle install
 
 ADD ./ /rails_app