diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index 4ab932a..3e63f8a 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -28,3 +28,4 @@ tests/
 
 # Docs / misc
 *.md
+!README.md
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d429074..fdc8a11 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY pyproject.toml .
 COPY uv.lock .
+COPY LICENSE .
+COPY README.md .
 COPY src/ src/
 
 # Copy pre-built frontend assets (required for wheel artifacts).
@@ -41,8 +43,6 @@ RUN groupadd --gid 1001 app && \
 WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY --from=builder /app/.venv .venv
-COPY entrypoint.sh .
-RUN chmod +x /app/entrypoint.sh
 
 ENV PATH="/app/.venv/bin:$PATH"
 
diff --git a/examples/01-local-dev/example.env b/examples/01-local-dev/example.env
index c7ae1da..e140d49 100644
--- a/examples/01-local-dev/example.env
+++ b/examples/01-local-dev/example.env
@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ APP_ENV=dev
 # First-run administrator account, created automatically on startup.
 # Sign in with these, then create more users from the admin panel at /admin.
 ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_USERNAME=admin
-ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_PASSWORD=changeme
+ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_PASSWORD=changeme  # pragma: allowlist secret
 
 # Title shown in the app header and browser tab.
 # CUSTOM_HEADER_TITLE=My Chat
 
 # Database connection. When unset, a local SQLite file (./strands-chat.sqlite)
 # is used, which is ideal for development. Uncomment to use Postgres instead.
-# DATABASE_URL=postgresql+psycopg://user:password@localhost:5432/dbname
+# DATABASE_URL=postgresql+psycopg://user:password@localhost:5432/dbname  # pragma: allowlist secret
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # OPTIONAL — OIDC single sign-on (usually not needed for local development)
diff --git a/src/strands_compose_chat/app.py b/src/strands_compose_chat/app.py
index f6ac9d9..dd80a88 100644
--- a/src/strands_compose_chat/app.py
+++ b/src/strands_compose_chat/app.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from fastapi.middleware.gzip import GZipMiddleware
-from fastapi.middleware.trustedhost import TrustedHostMiddleware
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
 from sqladmin import Admin
 from sqlalchemy import select
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@
 from .frontend import mount_frontend
 from .logging import configure_logging
 from .media.routes import router as media_router
-from .middleware import SecurityHeadersMiddleware
+from .middleware import HealthExemptTrustedHostMiddleware, SecurityHeadersMiddleware
 from .sessions.routes import router as sessions_router
 
 logger: structlog.stdlib.BoundLogger = structlog.get_logger(__name__)
@@ -94,7 +93,18 @@ def create_app(settings: Settings | None = None) -> FastAPI:
         same_site="lax",
     )
     app.add_middleware(SecurityHeadersMiddleware)
-    app.add_middleware(TrustedHostMiddleware, allowed_hosts=settings.TRUSTED_HOSTS)
+    app.add_middleware(
+        HealthExemptTrustedHostMiddleware,
+        allowed_hosts=settings.TRUSTED_HOSTS,
+        exempt_paths=frozenset(
+            {
+                f"{prefix}/health",
+                f"{prefix}/ready",  # routes mounted under the URL prefix
+                "/health",
+                "/ready",  # fallback when ASGI root_path is used
+            }
+        ),
+    )
     app.add_middleware(
         CORSMiddleware,
         allow_origins=settings.CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS,
diff --git a/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/__init__.py b/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/__init__.py
index 4374af2..a3bbe82 100644
--- a/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/__init__.py
+++ b/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-"""Middleware: security headers."""
+"""Middleware: security headers and trusted-host exemptions."""
 
 from .security_headers import SecurityHeadersMiddleware
+from .trusted_host import HealthExemptTrustedHostMiddleware
 
 __all__ = [
+    "HealthExemptTrustedHostMiddleware",
     "SecurityHeadersMiddleware",
 ]
diff --git a/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/trusted_host.py b/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/trusted_host.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d071b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/strands_compose_chat/middleware/trusted_host.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+"""TrustedHostMiddleware variant that exempts LB probe paths from host validation."""
+
+from starlette.middleware.trustedhost import TrustedHostMiddleware
+from starlette.types import Receive, Scope, Send
+
+
+class HealthExemptTrustedHostMiddleware(TrustedHostMiddleware):
+    """TrustedHostMiddleware that skips host validation for LB health/readiness probes.
+
+    ALB target-group health checks reach the container via its private IP, so
+    the probe's Host header is the container IP — never a value in
+    TRUSTED_HOSTS.  We bypass host validation only for the exact probe paths;
+    every other request is still strictly enforced.
+
+    Args:
+        app: The ASGI application to wrap.
+        allowed_hosts: Sequence of hostnames allowed through host validation.
+        www_redirect: When True, redirect non-www to www (passed to parent).
+        exempt_paths: Frozenset of path strings that skip host validation.
+            Both the prefixed and un-prefixed probe paths should be included so
+            the exemption works regardless of whether the app uses ASGI
+            ``root_path`` or mounts routes directly under the prefix.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        app,  # type: ignore[override]  # starlette parent uses untyped ASGIApp alias
+        allowed_hosts: list[str] | None = None,
+        www_redirect: bool = True,
+        exempt_paths: frozenset[str] = frozenset(),
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(app, allowed_hosts=allowed_hosts, www_redirect=www_redirect)
+        self.exempt_paths = exempt_paths
+
+    async def __call__(self, scope: Scope, receive: Receive, send: Send) -> None:
+        """Pass probe paths through without host validation; enforce all others."""
+        if scope["type"] == "http" and scope.get("path", "").rstrip("/") in self.exempt_paths:
+            await self.app(scope, receive, send)
+            return
+        await super().__call__(scope, receive, send)
diff --git a/src/strands_compose_chat/templates/login.html b/src/strands_compose_chat/templates/login.html
index 9022aa0..725e6ce 100644
--- a/src/strands_compose_chat/templates/login.html
+++ b/src/strands_compose_chat/templates/login.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
     <title>{{ app_title }}</title>
     <script type="module" crossorigin src="{{ url_prefix }}/static/js/login.js"></script>
-    <link rel="stylesheet" crossorigin href="{{ url_prefix }}/static/css/login.css">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" crossorigin href="{{ url_prefix }}/static/css/index.css">
   </head>
   <body>
     <div id="auth-root"></div>
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index f76883a..3d6f0af 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import inspect
-import sys
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
 
@@ -18,12 +17,6 @@
 from sqlalchemy import event
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
-# Windows' default Proactor loop mismanages aiosqlite's worker-thread
-# connections (and noisily fails to close itself). The Selector loop matches
-# Linux/macOS behaviour and works cleanly with aiosqlite.
-if sys.platform == "win32":
-    asyncio.set_event_loop_policy(asyncio.WindowsSelectorEventLoopPolicy())
-
 from strands_compose_chat import config
 
 _TEST_SETTINGS = config.Settings(
diff --git a/tests/media/test_service.py b/tests/media/test_service.py
index 536cd6a..d671eee 100644
--- a/tests/media/test_service.py
+++ b/tests/media/test_service.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 _SESSION_SECRET = "t" * 43
 
 _SETTINGS = Settings(
+    APP_ENV="dev",
     SESSION_SECRET_KEY=_SESSION_SECRET,
     CHAT_MEDIA_MAX_FILE_BYTES=5 * 1024 * 1024,
     CHAT_MEDIA_MAX_TOTAL_BYTES=20 * 1024 * 1024,
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ def test_build_capabilities_result_is_valid_schema() -> None:
 
 def test_build_capabilities_limit_fields_reflect_custom_settings() -> None:
     custom = Settings(
+        APP_ENV="dev",
         SESSION_SECRET_KEY=_SESSION_SECRET,
         CHAT_MEDIA_MAX_FILE_BYTES=1 * 1024 * 1024,
         CHAT_MEDIA_MAX_TOTAL_BYTES=4 * 1024 * 1024,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_auth_invariants.py b/tests/unit/test_auth_invariants.py
index 547c40b..54306a7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_auth_invariants.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_auth_invariants.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from strands_compose_chat.auth.passwords import hash_password, verify_password
 from strands_compose_chat.config import Settings
 
-_SETTINGS = Settings(SESSION_SECRET_KEY="t" * 43)
+_SETTINGS = Settings(APP_ENV="dev", SESSION_SECRET_KEY="t" * 43)
 
 
 def test_a_password_verifies_against_its_own_hash() -> None:
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def test_a_wrong_password_does_not_verify() -> None:
 def test_argon2_parameters_meet_the_security_floor() -> None:
     # Guards against silently weakening the hashing cost. Floors, not exact
     # values, so deliberately strengthening the parameters stays green.
-    settings = Settings(SESSION_SECRET_KEY="t" * 43)
+    settings = Settings(APP_ENV="dev", SESSION_SECRET_KEY="t" * 43)
     assert settings.ARGON2_MEMORY_KIB >= 65536
     assert settings.ARGON2_TIME_COST >= 3
     assert settings.ARGON2_PARALLELISM >= 4
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 9f21e8b..cc73589 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -2014,7 +2014,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "strands-compose-chat"
-version = "0.1.2"
+version = "0.1.3"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "aiosqlite" },