diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index 695ed0b..295ee3f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Pull and apply compose
         run: |
           $COMPOSE pull
-          $COMPOSE up -d
+          # Exclude github-runner from up -d — recreating the container that
+          # is running this job would kill the workflow mid-step.
+          SERVICES=$($COMPOSE config --services | grep -v '^github-runner$' | tr '\n' ' ')
+          $COMPOSE up -d $SERVICES
 
       - name: Reload Caddyfile
         run: |