diff --git a/Dockerfile.backend b/Dockerfile.backend
index 51a5a69..fdc12fa 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.backend
+++ b/Dockerfile.backend
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ COPY backend/ .
 EXPOSE 8000
 
 # Default command - can be overridden in compose for development
-CMD ["uvicorn", "backend.main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]
+CMD ["uvicorn", "backend.main:app", "--app-dir", "/app/src", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]
diff --git a/compose.dev.yml b/compose.dev.yml
index 2c99cb3..2ffb871 100644
--- a/compose.dev.yml
+++ b/compose.dev.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ services:
     command:
       - "uvicorn"
       - "backend.main:app"
+      - "--app-dir"
+      - "/app/src"
       - "--host"
       - "0.0.0.0"
       - "--port"
diff --git a/docs/DEPLOYABLE_RUNTIME_CONTRACT.md b/docs/DEPLOYABLE_RUNTIME_CONTRACT.md
index e5123ac..0c33cd2 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOYABLE_RUNTIME_CONTRACT.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOYABLE_RUNTIME_CONTRACT.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Excluded:
 
 - Container build source: `Dockerfile.backend`.
 - Runtime base image: `python:3.14-slim`.
-- Runtime process: `uvicorn backend.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000`.
+- Runtime process: `uvicorn backend.main:app --app-dir /app/src --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000`.
 - Exposed runtime port: `8000`.
 
 ### Required Runtime Dependencies
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ The lockfile in `backend/uv.lock` is the dependency source of truth.
 ### Backend Runtime Checklist
 
 - [ ] Runtime image built from `Dockerfile.backend`.
-- [ ] Runtime process is uvicorn serving `backend.main:app` on `0.0.0.0:8000`.
+- [ ] Runtime process is uvicorn serving `backend.main:app` with app dir `/app/src` on `0.0.0.0:8000`.
 - [ ] `DATABASE_URL` is set in deployment runtime.
 - [ ] `GET /health` behavior matches contract.
 - [ ] Startup fails on runtime policy mismatch.