diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 1635bd4..3f0d30e 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ COPY package*.json ./
 # Install production dependencies only
 RUN npm ci --only=production
 
-# Copy prisma schema and migrations
+# Copy prisma schema and migrations for runtime and hydration template
 COPY prisma ./prisma/
+COPY prisma ./prisma_template/
 
 # Copy built application from builder
 COPY --from=builder /app/dist ./dist
diff --git a/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh b/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
index b3ae59e..41ca11c 100644
--- a/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 set -e
 
+# Auto-hydrate prisma directory when bind-mounted volume is empty
+if [ ! -f "/app/prisma/schema.prisma" ]; then
+	echo "Mount is empty. Hydrating /app/prisma from /app/prisma_template..."
+	cp -R /app/prisma_template/. /app/prisma/
+fi
+
 # Run migrations
 npx prisma migrate deploy