diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index cd79e3b..9205a6e 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ jobs:
             docker images registry.infra.mintel.me/mintel/mb-grid-solutions:latest --format 'table {{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}\t{{.ID}}\t{{.CreatedSince}}'
 
             echo ''
-            echo '=== Force recreating and restarting app container ==='
-            docker compose up -d --force-recreate app
+            echo '=== Starting app container with new image (zero-downtime) ==='
+            docker compose up -d --pull always --force-recreate --no-build app
 
             echo ''
             echo '=== Waiting for container to be healthy (10 seconds) ==='