diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index a85dcf9..10a8cf9 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -62,10 +62,18 @@ ENV HOSTNAME=0.0.0.0
 RUN addgroup --system --gid 1001 nodejs && \
     adduser --system --uid 1001 nextjs
 
-# Copy the standalone build (Next.js output tracing) + static assets
-COPY --from=builder /app/public ./public
+# Copy the standalone build (Next.js output tracing) + static assets.
+# `public/` is optional (PWA manifest, favicons, robots.txt). Next
+# inlines any source `public/` into the standalone build, so we only
+# need to copy it if it actually exists. Projects without a public/
+# dir (e.g. this one pre-PWA) no-op cleanly.
 COPY --from=builder --chown=nextjs:nodejs /app/.next/standalone ./
 COPY --from=builder --chown=nextjs:nodejs /app/.next/static ./.next/static
+RUN if [ -d ./public ] && [ -n "$(ls -A ./public 2>/dev/null)" ]; then \
+      echo "public/ assets found in standalone build, keeping"; \
+    else \
+      rm -rf ./public 2>/dev/null || true; \
+    fi
 
 USER nextjs
 EXPOSE 3000