diff --git a/ops/nixos/bvm-heptapod/default.nix b/ops/nixos/bvm-heptapod/default.nix
index e8268c0c6f..7c3832152e 100644
--- a/ops/nixos/bvm-heptapod/default.nix
+++ b/ops/nixos/bvm-heptapod/default.nix
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ in {
   };
 
   containers.deployer = {
+    autoStart = true;
     config = { config, pkgs, ... }: {
       imports = [
         ../lib/low-space.nix