diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 8ee8a39..2957e94 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           APP_DIR=/home/tyler/route-commerce
           mkdir -p $APP_DIR
+          # Seed .env.example into APP_DIR if missing (it lives in the repo, not in APP_DIR)
+          [ -f $APP_DIR/.env.example ] || cp .env.example $APP_DIR/.env.example
           cd $APP_DIR
           [ -f .env ] || cp .env.example .env
           # Append production secrets to .env (overriding .env.example defaults)