diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/directus/client.ts b/frontend/src/lib/directus/client.ts
index f976f91..a706075 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/directus/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/directus/client.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@ import {
 import type { SparkSchema } from '@/types/schema';
 
 const PUBLIC_URL = import.meta.env.PUBLIC_DIRECTUS_URL || 'http://localhost:8055';
-const INTERNAL_URL = import.meta.env.INTERNAL_DIRECTUS_URL || PUBLIC_URL;
+
+// Internal URL (SSR only) - try process.env first to bypass build-time replacement, then fallback to docker default
+let INTERNAL_URL = 'http://directus:8055';
+if (typeof process !== 'undefined' && process.env && process.env.INTERNAL_DIRECTUS_URL) {
+    INTERNAL_URL = process.env.INTERNAL_DIRECTUS_URL;
+}
 
 // Select URL based on environment (Server vs Client)
 const DIRECTUS_URL = (typeof window === 'undefined') ? INTERNAL_URL : PUBLIC_URL;