diff --git a/scripts/auto-boot-ollama-host.lua b/scripts/auto-boot-ollama-host.lua
index 11fecec..c287ba6 100644
--- a/scripts/auto-boot-ollama-host.lua
+++ b/scripts/auto-boot-ollama-host.lua
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ local function createSSHKeyFilesFromEnv()
     return
   end
 
+  -- Ensure .ssh directory exists
+  local ssh_dir = SSH_IDENTITY_FILE:match("^(.*)/[^/]+$
+  if ssh_dir then
+    os.execute(("mkdir -p %q && chmod 700 %q"):format(ssh_dir, ssh_dir))
+  end
+
   local priv_fh = io.open(SSH_IDENTITY_FILE, "w")
   if not priv_fh then
     log("Failed to open SSH identity file for writing: " .. SSH_IDENTITY_FILE)