diff --git a/scripts/deploy-remote.sh b/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
index d24fba9..3042835 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
@@ -1362,11 +1362,17 @@ deploy_authentik() {
     # generated". Boot persistence comes from [Install] WantedBy=default.target
     # inside each .container file, which the generator honors at user-manager
     # start (linger must stay on for the deploy user).
-    systemctl --user start authentik-postgres.service
+    # RESTART, not start: `start` on an already-active unit is a no-op, so an
+    # image bump would install the new digest and keep serving the old
+    # container while every gate stayed green (measured 2026-10-30: server and
+    # worker stayed on the previous release beside an outpost that moved,
+    # because only the outpost handler restarts). The generator has already
+    # re-rendered the unit from the .container, so a restart is what applies it.
+    systemctl --user restart authentik-postgres.service
     wait_container_healthy authentik-postgres 120 || return 1
-    systemctl --user start authentik-server.service
+    systemctl --user restart authentik-server.service
     wait_container_healthy authentik-server 300 || return 1
-    systemctl --user start authentik-worker.service
+    systemctl --user restart authentik-worker.service
 }
 
 deploy_authentik_outpost() {