diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yml b/docker-compose.dev.yml
index 025de54..124bcec 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ services:
       env_file: .env
       volumes:
         - ./:/app
+        - model_cache_dev:/root/.cache
+        - u2net_models_dev:/root/.u2net
       depends_on:
         redis:
           condition: service_healthy
@@ -138,3 +140,5 @@ networks:
 volumes:
   mysql_data_dev:
   redis_data_dev:
+  model_cache_dev:
+  u2net_models_dev:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 2bba8b7..76953c3 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ services:
       - ./app/static:/app/app/static
       - ./app/uploads:/app/app/uploads
       - ./logs:/app/logs
+      # The worker downloads its models on first import and on first job. Without
+      # these the caches live in the container layer, so every deploy recreates the
+      # container, wipes them and leaves uploads queued until the models are back.
+      - model_cache:/root/.cache
+      - u2net_models:/root/.u2net
     depends_on:
       redis:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -144,3 +149,5 @@ networks:
 volumes:
   mysql_data:
   redis_data:
+  model_cache:
+  u2net_models: