diff --git a/phase8_cutover.sh b/phase8_cutover.sh
index 67084cb..8f57b5a 100755
--- a/phase8_cutover.sh
+++ b/phase8_cutover.sh
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ source "${SCRIPT_DIR}/lib/common.sh"
 
 load_env
 require_vars UNRAID_IP UNRAID_SSH_USER UNRAID_GITEA_IP UNRAID_CADDY_IP \
+             UNRAID_COMPOSE_DIR \
              GITEA_INTERNAL_URL GITEA_DOMAIN GITEA_ADMIN_TOKEN \
              GITEA_ORG_NAME TLS_MODE CADDY_DOMAIN CADDY_DATA_PATH \
              GITHUB_USERNAME GITHUB_TOKEN \
@@ -39,6 +40,8 @@ PHASE8_STATE_DIR="$(_project_root)/.manifests"
 PHASE8_STATE_FILE="${PHASE8_STATE_DIR}/phase8_github_repo_state.json"
 # Reuse Unraid's existing Docker network.
 UNRAID_DOCKER_NETWORK_NAME="br0"
+# Compose files live in a centralized project directory.
+CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR="${UNRAID_COMPOSE_DIR}/caddy"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Helper: persist original GitHub repo settings for teardown symmetry
@@ -170,7 +173,7 @@ fi
 # Step 3: Render + deploy Caddy docker-compose
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 log_step 3 "Deploying Caddy docker-compose..."
-if ssh_exec UNRAID "test -f '${CADDY_DATA_PATH}/docker-compose.yml'" 2>/dev/null; then
+if ssh_exec UNRAID "test -f '${CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR}/docker-compose.yml'" 2>/dev/null; then
   log_info "Caddy docker-compose.yml already exists — skipping"
 else
   if ! ssh_exec UNRAID "docker network inspect '${UNRAID_DOCKER_NETWORK_NAME}'" &>/dev/null; then
@@ -178,6 +181,7 @@ else
     log_error "Create it in Unraid first or update phase8_cutover.sh to match your network name."
     exit 1
   fi
+  ssh_exec UNRAID "mkdir -p '${CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR}'"
   TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
   CADDY_CONTAINER_IP="${UNRAID_CADDY_IP}"
   GITEA_NETWORK_NAME="${UNRAID_DOCKER_NETWORK_NAME}"
@@ -206,9 +210,9 @@ else
     sed -i.bak -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' "$TMPFILE"
     rm -f "${TMPFILE}.bak"
   fi
-  scp_to UNRAID "$TMPFILE" "${CADDY_DATA_PATH}/docker-compose.yml"
+  scp_to UNRAID "$TMPFILE" "${CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR}/docker-compose.yml"
   rm -f "$TMPFILE"
-  log_success "Caddy docker-compose.yml deployed"
+  log_success "Caddy docker-compose.yml deployed to ${CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR}"
 fi
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -219,7 +223,7 @@ CONTAINER_STATUS=$(ssh_exec UNRAID "docker ps --filter name=caddy --format '{{.S
 if [[ "$CONTAINER_STATUS" == *"Up"* ]]; then
   log_info "Caddy container already running — skipping"
 else
-  ssh_exec UNRAID "cd '${CADDY_DATA_PATH}' && docker compose up -d 2>/dev/null || docker-compose up -d"
+  ssh_exec UNRAID "cd '${CADDY_COMPOSE_DIR}' && docker compose up -d 2>/dev/null || docker-compose up -d"
   log_success "Caddy container started"
 fi