diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 03e81f9..fa2258d 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ COPY --from=builder --chown=fastify:nodejs /app/package.json ./package.json
 
 USER fastify
 
+RUN mkdir -p /app/tmp && chown -R fastify:fastify /app/tmp
+
 EXPOSE 4000
 
 ARG CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGIN
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/removebg.route.ts b/backend/src/routes/removebg.route.ts
index ed55bf9..6a1e3dc 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/removebg.route.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/removebg.route.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,19 @@ export async function removeBG(app: FastifyInstance) {
   app.post(
     "/api/remove-bg",
     async (request: FastifyRequest, reply: FastifyReply) => {
-      const tmpDir = path.join(process.cwd(), "tmp");
+      const tmpDir =
+        process.env.NODE_ENV === "production"
+          ? "/app/tmp"
+          : path.join(process.cwd(), "tmp");
       const sessionId = randomUUID();
       const inputPath = path.join(tmpDir, `input-${sessionId}.png`);
       const outputPath = path.join(tmpDir, `output-${sessionId}.png`);
 
       try {
         const parts = request.parts();
-        await fs.mkdir(tmpDir, { recursive: true });
+        if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "development") {
+          await fs.mkdir(tmpDir, { recursive: true });
+        }
 
         let fileBuffer: Buffer | null = null;
 
@@ -53,7 +58,10 @@ export async function removeBG(app: FastifyInstance) {
         });
 
         const outputImageBuffer = await fs.readFile(outputPath);
-        await Promise.all([fs.unlink(inputPath), fs.unlink(outputPath)]);
+        await Promise.all([
+          fs.unlink(inputPath).catch(() => {}),
+          fs.unlink(outputPath).catch(() => {}),
+        ]);
 
         reply
           .header("Content-Type", "image/png")