diff --git a/app/app.js b/app/app.js
index 3a2aa71..59196e9 100644
--- a/app/app.js
+++ b/app/app.js
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ app.use(bodyParser.raw( { limit: '10mb', type: 'image/*' }));
 app.use(logger('dev'));
 app.use(cors(corsOpts));
 
+// Serve the resized avatar files (GET /<md5(jid)>.jpg) straight from outputDir.
+// The frontend reads `${avatarServiceUrl}/${hash}.jpg`; historically an nginx
+// sharing the outputDir volume did this, but serving it from the node process
+// keeps the deployment a single container with one port.
+app.use(express.static(outputDir));
+
 // function store
 function resizeAndSave(buf, jidhash) {
   if (resolutions.length > 0) {