diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 44d063e..4b95e3c 100644
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 set -eu
 
 # Create necessary directories
-mkdir -p /app/data/config /app/data/storage
+mkdir -p /app/data/config /app/data/storage /app/data/nginx
 
 echo "==> DEBUG: Full repository structure at /app/code"
 find /app/code -type d -maxdepth 3 -not -path "*/node_modules/*" -not -path "*/\.*" | sort
@@ -115,59 +115,65 @@ fi
 # Set up NGINX to serve the web apps and proxy to the Museum server
 echo "==> Setting up NGINX for web apps and API"
 
-# Create NGINX configuration
-mkdir -p /etc/nginx/sites-available /etc/nginx/sites-enabled
+# Create a custom NGINX configuration in the writable data directory
+cat > /app/data/nginx/ente.conf <<EOT
+worker_processes 1;
+error_log stderr;
+daemon off;
+pid /app/data/nginx/nginx.pid;
 
-cat > /etc/nginx/sites-available/ente <<EOT
-server {
-    listen 8080;
+events {
+    worker_connections 1024;
+}
+
+http {
+    include /etc/nginx/mime.types;
+    default_type application/octet-stream;
+    access_log /dev/stdout combined;
+    sendfile on;
+    keepalive_timeout 65;
     
-    # Photos app - root path
-    location / {
-        root /app/web/photos;
-        try_files \$uri \$uri/ /index.html;
-    }
-    
-    # Accounts app
-    location /accounts/ {
-        alias /app/web/accounts/;
-        try_files \$uri \$uri/ /accounts/index.html;
-    }
-    
-    # Auth app
-    location /auth/ {
-        alias /app/web/auth/;
-        try_files \$uri \$uri/ /auth/index.html;
-    }
-    
-    # Cast app
-    location /cast/ {
-        alias /app/web/cast/;
-        try_files \$uri \$uri/ /cast/index.html;
-    }
-    
-    # API endpoints - proxy to Museum server
-    location /api/ {
-        proxy_pass http://localhost:8000;
-        proxy_http_version 1.1;
-        proxy_set_header Upgrade \$http_upgrade;
-        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
-        proxy_set_header Host \$host;
-        proxy_cache_bypass \$http_upgrade;
+    server {
+        listen 8080;
+        
+        # Photos app - root path
+        location / {
+            root /app/web/photos;
+            try_files \$uri \$uri/ /index.html;
+        }
+        
+        # Accounts app
+        location /accounts/ {
+            alias /app/web/accounts/;
+            try_files \$uri \$uri/ /accounts/index.html;
+        }
+        
+        # Auth app
+        location /auth/ {
+            alias /app/web/auth/;
+            try_files \$uri \$uri/ /auth/index.html;
+        }
+        
+        # Cast app
+        location /cast/ {
+            alias /app/web/cast/;
+            try_files \$uri \$uri/ /cast/index.html;
+        }
+        
+        # API endpoints - proxy to Museum server
+        location /api/ {
+            proxy_pass http://localhost:8000;
+            proxy_http_version 1.1;
+            proxy_set_header Upgrade \$http_upgrade;
+            proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
+            proxy_set_header Host \$host;
+            proxy_cache_bypass \$http_upgrade;
+        }
     }
 }
 EOT
 
-# Enable the site
-ln -sf /etc/nginx/sites-available/ente /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ente
-
-# Start NGINX
-echo "==> Starting NGINX"
-if command -v service &> /dev/null; then
-    service nginx restart || echo "Failed to restart nginx with service command"
-else
-    /usr/sbin/nginx -s reload || /usr/sbin/nginx || echo "Failed to start nginx"
-fi
+echo "==> Custom NGINX configuration created at /app/data/nginx/ente.conf"
 
 # Looking for Museum (Go server component)
 echo "==> Looking for Museum (Go server component)"
@@ -345,6 +351,6 @@ EOT
     fi
 fi
 
-# Serve the static web apps in the foreground
-echo "==> Running NGINX in the foreground"
-exec nginx -g "daemon off;" 
\ No newline at end of file
+# Serve the static web apps in the foreground using our custom nginx config
+echo "==> Running NGINX in the foreground with custom configuration"
+exec nginx -c /app/data/nginx/ente.conf 
\ No newline at end of file