diff --git a/scripts/deploy/deploy-node.sh b/scripts/deploy/deploy-node.sh
index 69df10c..c76e143 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy/deploy-node.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy/deploy-node.sh
@@ -120,7 +120,18 @@ for service in "${SERVICES[@]}"; do
         COMPOSE_CMD="${COMPOSE_CMD} --env-file ${ENV_FILE}"
     fi
 
-    $COMPOSE_CMD up -d --remove-orphans
+    # Services with their own Dockerfile need a rebuild on every deploy —
+    # otherwise `up -d` sees "container running, image tag unchanged" and skips
+    # rebuilding even when src/ changed, silently leaving the old code running
+    # (backlog c858dbc). Services with a prebuilt image (no Dockerfile) don't
+    # need --build.
+    if [ -f "${REPO_PATH}/services/${service}/Dockerfile" ]; then
+        echo "Building ${service} (has Dockerfile)"
+        $COMPOSE_CMD up -d --build --remove-orphans
+    else
+        echo "Using prebuilt image for ${service}"
+        $COMPOSE_CMD up -d --remove-orphans
+    fi
 done
 
 echo "--- Deployment Complete ---"