diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1667bae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+name: Docker
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ["main"]
+    tags: ["v*.*.*"]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: ["main"]
+
+env:
+  REGISTRY: ghcr.io
+  IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      # Set up BuildKit Docker container builder to be able to build
+      # multi-platform images and export cache
+      # https://github.com/docker/setup-buildx-action
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@f95db51fddba0c2d1ec667646a06c2ce06100226 # v3.0.0
+
+      # Login against a Docker registry except on PR
+      # https://github.com/docker/login-action
+      - name: Log into registry ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
+        uses: docker/login-action@343f7c4344506bcbf9b4de18042ae17996df046d # v3.0.0
+        with:
+          registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      # Extract metadata (tags, labels) for Docker
+      # https://github.com/docker/metadata-action
+      - name: Extract Docker metadata
+        id: meta
+        uses: docker/metadata-action@96383f45573cb7f253c731d3b3ab81c87ef81934 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          images: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+
+      # Build and push Docker image with Buildx (don't push on PR)
+      # https://github.com/docker/build-push-action
+      - name: Build and push Docker image
+        id: build-and-push
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@0565240e2d4ab88bba5387d719585280857ece09 # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          context: .
+          push: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
+          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
+          labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
+          cache-from: type=gha
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index bb21957..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
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ RUN mkdir -p /data
 # Expose the port the sync server runs on
 EXPOSE 8080
 
-# 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 dd1c6db..96ae6e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@ This docker container simply wraps the official minimal sync server based on Pyt
 
 ## Configuration
 
-The docker container uses the same environmental variable as described in the [official documentation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/sync-server.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_BASE`
+- `SYNC_HOST`
+- `SYNC_PORT`
+
+At least the following environmental variables has to be set outside of the container:
 
 - `SYNC_USER1`: The username and password for the first user in the format `user:password`.
 
@@ -49,6 +55,11 @@ services:
 ```
 
 
+## Updating the Docker Container
+
+Upon each restart, the docker container verifies that it runs with the most recent version of the official sync server and updates automatically if a new version is available. The docker image itself likely does not need an update.
+
+
 ## Building the Docker Image Locally
 
 1. Clone this Repository:
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..978aa7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# 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