diff --git a/ai/compose.yml b/ai/compose.yml
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index f699af1..22c72c1
--- a/ai/compose.yml
+++ b/ai/compose.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ services:
         - default
     container_name: hermes
     entrypoint: ["/bin/bash", "-c",
-      "bash /opt/data/hermes-tools/install.sh && exec /usr/bin/tini -g -- /opt/hermes/docker/entrypoint.sh \"$@\"",
+      "bash /opt/data/hermes-tools/install.sh && /opt/hermes/.venv/bin/uv pip install openai mautrix[encryption] --system -q && exec /usr/bin/tini -g -- /opt/hermes/docker/entrypoint.sh \"$@\"",
       "hermes-entrypoint"]
     restart: always
     # Gateway run enables the internal API server on port 8642
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ 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
+      # Persistent venv — Matrix bridge and other pip deps survive container rebuilds
+      - /mnt/HoardingCow_docker_data/Hermes/venv:/opt/hermes/.venv
     devices:
       - /dev/kfd:/dev/kfd
       - /dev/dri:/dev/dri