diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 059c736..9736910 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ jobs:
           DOCKER_IMAGE_FRONTEND=${{ secrets.DOCKER_IMAGE_FRONTEND }}
           ENVEOF
 
+          # Fallback defaults if image name secrets are empty
+          sed -i 's/^DOCKER_IMAGE_BACKEND=$/DOCKER_IMAGE_BACKEND=backend/' .env.production
+          sed -i 's/^DOCKER_IMAGE_FRONTEND=$/DOCKER_IMAGE_FRONTEND=frontend/' .env.production
+
       - name: Build Docker images
         run: docker compose --env-file .env.production -f compose.prod.yml build