diff --git a/.woodpecker.yml b/.woodpecker.yml
index f7912eb..d3ad556 100644
--- a/.woodpecker.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker.yml
@@ -109,10 +109,6 @@ steps:
         - -c
         - |
           set -euo pipefail
-          IMG_TAG="${1-}"
-          [ -n "$IMG_TAG" ] || { echo "❌ missing IMG_TAG arg"; exit 2; }
-          case "$IMG_TAG" in *" "*) echo "❌ IMG_TAG contains spaces: [$IMG_TAG]"; exit 2;; esac
-          export IMG_TAG
           [[ "${PROMOTE:-}" == "prod" ]] || { echo "⏭ Skipping (PROMOTE=$PROMOTE)"; exit 0; }
 
           mkdir -p ~/.ssh
@@ -127,7 +123,7 @@ steps:
 
           echo "🔑 SSH prerequisites installed"
           echo "🚀 Deploying tag $IMG_TAG to prod server $PROD_SSH_TARGET"
-
+          
           set -euo pipefail
           IMG_TAG="${1:?IMG_TAG arg missing}"
           export IMG_TAG
@@ -176,12 +172,7 @@ steps:
           ACCESS_COOKIE_NAME="$(gcloud secrets versions access latest --secret=ACCESS_COOKIE_NAME_$ENV --project="$PROJECT")"; export ACCESS_COOKIE_NAME
           export FROM_SECRETS_MANAGER=true
 
-          APP_DIR="/home/jcoakley_aptivaai_com"
-          cd "$APP_DIR"
-          echo "🔖 VM sees IMG_TAG: [$IMG_TAG]"
-          echo "🔖 root will see:"; sudo env | grep '^IMG_TAG=' || echo "   (none)"
-          
-          [ -f docker-compose.yml ] || { echo "❌ docker-compose.yml missing in $PWD"; exit 1; }
+          cd /home/jcoakley_aptivaai_com
 
           # Make Artifact Registry creds available to root (docker compose runs under sudo)
           gcloud auth configure-docker us-central1-docker.pkg.dev -q
@@ -211,4 +202,4 @@ when:
   event:
     - manual
   branch:
-    - master
+    - master
\ No newline at end of file