diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-ec2.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-ec2.yml
index 55e4523..029ff40 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-ec2.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-ec2.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ name: build-deploy-junohub-ec2
 env:
   IMAGE_NAME: junohub-app
   CONTAINER_NAME: junohub-app
-  # Directory on the EC2 instance where app + compose live
-  REMOTE_DIR: /junohub
+  # Directory name (under the EC2 user's home) where app + compose live
+  REMOTE_DIR: junohub
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -69,27 +69,27 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup directories on server
         run: |
           ssh -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }} << 'ENDSSH'
-          # Create directory for docker-compose file, .env and image tar
-          mkdir -p ${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}
-          echo "✅ Remote directory ensured at ${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}"
+          # Create directory for docker-compose file, .env and image tar under the EC2 user's home
+          mkdir -p ~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}
+          echo "✅ Remote directory ensured at ~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}"
           ENDSSH
 
       - name: Copy deployment files to server
         run: |
           # Copy docker-compose (app + Postgres), and .env
-          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no docker-compose.yml ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/docker-compose.yml
-          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no .env ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/.env
+          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no docker-compose.yml ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/docker-compose.yml
+          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no .env ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/.env
 
           # Copy application image tar
           echo "Copying Docker image to server..."
-          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no docker/junohub-app_latest.tar ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/junohub-app_latest.tar
+          scp -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no docker/junohub-app_latest.tar ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}:~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}/junohub-app_latest.tar
           echo "✅ Successfully copied Docker image to server"
 
       - name: Deploy with rolling update
         run: |
           ssh -i ssh_key.pem -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no ${{ secrets.EC2_USER }}@${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }} << 'ENDSSH'
           set -e
-          cd ${{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}
+          cd ~/{{ env.REMOTE_DIR }}
 
           # Basic disk space check (do not touch volumes)
           echo "=== DISK SPACE CHECK ==="