diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 227d7d00b..4daa6ef54 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -30,3 +30,7 @@ FIRECRAWL_API_KEY="" # For research, self-host or use cloud-version @ https://fi
 TRUST_APP_URL="http://localhost:3008" # Trust portal public site for NDA signing and access requests
 
 AUTH_TRUSTED_ORIGINS=http://localhost:3000,https://*.trycomp.ai,http://localhost:3002
+
+# Set to 'true' when self-hosting to disable Next.js image optimization
+# Required for Docker/self-hosted deployments where image optimization isn't available
+SELF_HOSTING=false
diff --git a/SELF_HOSTING.md b/SELF_HOSTING.md
index 96c1ba4c3..ad4f6118a 100644
--- a/SELF_HOSTING.md
+++ b/SELF_HOSTING.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ For a functional deployment:
 - **Email**: `RESEND_API_KEY` in app and portal
 - **Workflows**: `TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY` in app
 - **Misc**: `REVALIDATION_SECRET`, `NEXT_PUBLIC_PORTAL_URL` in app
+- **Images**: `SELF_HOSTING=true` in app (disables Next.js image optimization for self-hosted deployments)
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
diff --git a/apps/app/next.config.ts b/apps/app/next.config.ts
index ab6dc8956..4f7511e57 100644
--- a/apps/app/next.config.ts
+++ b/apps/app/next.config.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ const config: NextConfig = {
         hostname: '**',
       },
     ],
+    // Disable image optimization for self-hosted deployments
+    // where Next.js image optimization isn't available
+    unoptimized: process.env.SELF_HOSTING === 'true',
   },
 
   experimental: {
diff --git a/apps/app/src/env.mjs b/apps/app/src/env.mjs
index 493db7973..7565602a1 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/env.mjs
+++ b/apps/app/src/env.mjs
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export const env = createEnv({
     NOVU_API_KEY: z.string().optional(),
     INTERNAL_API_TOKEN: z.string().optional(),
     STRIPE_SECRET_KEY: z.string().optional(),
+    SELF_HOSTING: z.string().transform((val) => val === 'true').optional().default('false'),
   },
 
   client: {