diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index c281ce4..fecc162 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ jobs:
           echo "$SSH_DEPLOY_KEY" > ~/.ssh/deploy_key
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/deploy_key
           ssh-keyscan -p "$SSH_DEPLOY_PORT" "$SSH_DEPLOY_HOST" >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts 2>/dev/null || true
-          ssh -i ~/.ssh/deploy_key -p "$SSH_DEPLOY_PORT" "$SSH_DEPLOY_USER@$SSH_DEPLOY_HOST" \
+          # -v for diagnostics, -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new so first contact works
+          ssh -v -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -i ~/.ssh/deploy_key -p "$SSH_DEPLOY_PORT" "$SSH_DEPLOY_USER@$SSH_DEPLOY_HOST" \
             'set -e
              cd /home/code/mcpedia
              git pull origin main