diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 7ac3420..2cb2500 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -351,6 +351,15 @@ jobs:
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
           ssh-keyscan -H alpha.mintel.me >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts 2>/dev/null
 
+          # SSH keepalive to prevent timeout during long docker pull
+          cat > ~/.ssh/config <<SSHCFG
+          Host alpha.mintel.me
+            ServerAliveInterval 15
+            ServerAliveCountMax 20
+            ConnectTimeout 30
+          SSHCFG
+          chmod 600 ~/.ssh/config
+
           if [[ "$TARGET" == "production" ]]; then
             SITE_DIR="/home/deploy/sites/mintel.me"
           elif [[ "$TARGET" == "testing" ]]; then