diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index ec2e900..9b78e09 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -31,11 +31,15 @@ jobs:
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
 
       - name: Deploy static files to server
+        env:
+          DEPLOY_HOST: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}
+          REMOTE_DIR: /home/deploy/projects/ge-bos/static
         run: |
-          rsync -avz --delete \
-            -e "ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new" \
-            out/ \
-            deploy@${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}:/home/deploy/projects/ge-bos/static/
+          SSH="ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new"
+          # Recreate the target dir so removed files don't linger (rsync --delete equivalent)
+          $SSH deploy@"$DEPLOY_HOST" "rm -rf '$REMOTE_DIR' && mkdir -p '$REMOTE_DIR'"
+          # Stream the build output over ssh and extract it on the server
+          tar -czf - -C out . | $SSH deploy@"$DEPLOY_HOST" "tar -xzf - -C '$REMOTE_DIR'"
 
       - name: Run deployment script
         run: |