diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b66ede0..5f541a6 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -42,5 +42,14 @@ services:
       - AICHAT_URL=${AICHAT_URL:-}
       - AICHAT_TOKEN=${AICHAT_TOKEN:-}
       - AICHAT_PERSONA=${AICHAT_PERSONA:-paliadin}
+      # Backup Mode (m/paliad#77 Slice A). Local-disk export target; the
+      # paliad_exports named volume below persists it across container
+      # restarts. Unset → /admin/backups returns 503 (BackupService gate).
+      - PALIAD_EXPORT_DIR=${PALIAD_EXPORT_DIR:-/var/lib/paliad/exports}
       # - ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}  # Phase H (AI Frist-Extraktion), currently deferred
+    volumes:
+      - paliad_exports:/var/lib/paliad/exports
     restart: unless-stopped
+
+volumes:
+  paliad_exports: