diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 8cee6829..e393d022 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -4,10 +4,24 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ffmpeg && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 EXPOSE 5173
 WORKDIR /app
+
+# Store Deno cache outside /app so it survives volume mounts (enables offline operation)
+ENV DENO_DIR=/deno-dir
 ENV NODE_ENV=production
+
+# Copy config files for dependency caching
 COPY ./backend/deno.lock /app/deno.lock
 COPY ./backend/deno.json /app/deno.json
-RUN DENO_FUTURE=1 deno install --lock=deno.lock
+COPY ./backend/package.json /app/package.json
+
+# Install and cache all dependencies (both JSR and npm packages)
+RUN DENO_FUTURE=1 deno install --lock=deno.lock --node-modules-dir=false
+
+# Copy source files
 COPY ./myceliasdk /myceliasdk
 COPY ./backend . /app/
+
+# Pre-cache all imports from the main entry point to ensure everything is available offline
+RUN deno cache --lock=deno.lock server.ts
+
 CMD ["deno", "run", "-A", "server.ts", "serve", "--prod"]
diff --git a/backend/deno.json b/backend/deno.json
index 144a0061..9db77fd6 100644
--- a/backend/deno.json
+++ b/backend/deno.json
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   "tasks": {
-    "dev": "deno run --watch -A server.ts serve"
+    "dev": "deno run --watch -A server.ts serve",
+    "dev:offline": "deno run --watch -A --node-modules-dir=false server.ts serve"
   },
   "lint": {
     "rules": {
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e264dd1e..dce56858 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ services:
         limits:
           cpus: '2.0'
           memory: 4G
-    
+
   # mongo-search:
   #   image: mongodb/mongodb-community-search:latest
   #   entrypoint: ["/mongot-entrypoint.sh"]
@@ -64,13 +64,14 @@ services:
     expose:
       - "5173"
     restart: always
-    command: deno task dev
+    command: deno task dev:offline
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
       REDIS_HOST: redis
       REDIS_PORT: 6379
       PYTHON_WORKER_URL: http://python-worker:8000
+      DENO_DIR: /deno-dir
     volumes:
       - ./backend:/app
       - ./myceliasdk:/myceliasdk