diff --git a/ai/compose.yml b/ai/compose.yml
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index bc0cd4f..ca5f181
--- a/ai/compose.yml
+++ b/ai/compose.yml
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ services:
       "bash /opt/data/hermes-tools/install.sh && bash /opt/data/hermes-tools/run-multi-gateways.sh && exec /usr/bin/tini -g -- /opt/hermes/docker/entrypoint.sh \"$@\"",
       "hermes-entrypoint"]
     restart: always
-    # Gateway run enables the internal API server on port 8642
-    command: gateway run
     environment:
       - OLLAMA_HOST=http://ollama:11434
       - HERMES_DASHBOARD=1
@@ -63,6 +61,8 @@ services:
       - /mnt/HoardingCow_docker_data/Syncthing/telos-ro:/opt/data/telos-ro:ro
       # Syncthing-shared inbox — write tasks here, they sync to user's laptop
       - /mnt/HoardingCow_docker_data/Syncthing/telos-rw:/opt/data/telos-rw:rw
+      # Persist Python venv across container recreation (Matrix bridge deps, etc.)
+      - /mnt/HoardingCow_docker_data/Hermes/venv:/opt/hermes/.venv
     devices:
       - /dev/kfd:/dev/kfd
       - /dev/dri:/dev/dri