diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
index 7bc2cc0..17e9a37 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
@@ -67,10 +67,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build container on target host
         run: |
-          ssh $TARGET_USER@$TARGET_HOST '
-            cd $APP_DIR
-            podman build -t $CONTAINER_NAME:latest .
-          '
+          # Expand $APP_DIR locally so the remote shell receives the concrete path
+          ssh $TARGET_USER@$TARGET_HOST "set -euo pipefail; cd '$APP_DIR' && echo 'PWD:' \$(pwd) && ls -la . && podman build -t $CONTAINER_NAME:latest ."
 
       - name: Backup Quadlet file
         run: |