diff --git a/scripts/onboard/steps/30-node-agent.sh b/scripts/onboard/steps/30-node-agent.sh
index afd9a43..a16c0da 100644
--- a/scripts/onboard/steps/30-node-agent.sh
+++ b/scripts/onboard/steps/30-node-agent.sh
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ if [[ "$_running" -eq 0 ]]; then
     [[ -f "$LOCAL_OVERRIDE" ]] \
         || die "Override not found: $LOCAL_OVERRIDE"
 
+    # Ensure remote deploy dir exists (rsync does not create intermediate dirs)
+    # pi owns /opt/homelab, so no sudo needed
+    rrun mkdir -p "${REMOTE_DEPLOY_DIR}"
+
     # Push base compose + Dockerfile + src/  (rsync_dir handles DRY_RUN)
     rsync_dir "${LOCAL_SVC_DIR}/" "${REMOTE_DEPLOY_DIR}/"