diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 15c3937..77adec5 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -113,11 +113,9 @@ if [ "$GREENFIELD" = true ]; then
     # Copy launcher config
     cp -r "$SCRIPT_DIR/config/nextworkspace"/* "$TARGET_DIR/config/nextworkspace/" 2>/dev/null || true
 
-    # Create podman network
+    # Create podman network (no subnet — auto-assign)
     echo "[5/6] Creating podman network..."
-    podman network create --subnet 172.16.0.0/24 "$NETWORK_NAME" 2>/dev/null || true
-    # Ensure network exists for rootless too
-    sudo -u master podman network create --subnet 172.16.0.0/24 "$NETWORK_NAME" 2>/dev/null || true
+    podman network create "$NETWORK_NAME" 2>&1 || echo "[WARN] Network create failed (may already exist)"
 
     # Deploy all containers
     echo "[6/6] Deploying containers..."