diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index abaf955..5501b51 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ COPY --from=backend-builder /app/backend/package.json ./backend/
 # Copy frontend build (standalone mode)
 COPY --from=frontend-builder /app/frontend/.next/standalone ./frontend/
 COPY --from=frontend-builder /app/frontend/.next/static ./frontend/.next/static
-COPY --from=frontend-builder /app/frontend/public ./frontend/public
+# public dir may be empty — copy if exists
+COPY --from=frontend-builder /app/frontend/public/ ./frontend/public/
 
 # Nginx config
 COPY nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
diff --git a/frontend/public/.gitkeep b/frontend/public/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29