diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/phase_packages.go b/internal/bootstrap/phase_packages.go
index 57664ef..80d5292 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/phase_packages.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/phase_packages.go
@@ -162,7 +162,10 @@ func raiseGiteaServer(ctx context.Context, run Runner, timeout time.Duration, db
 	}
 	args := append([]string{
 		"run", "-d", "--name", giteaBootstrap,
-		"--network", "container:" + substrateStore,
+		// Host network, like the control plane: it reaches the substrate store on the machine's
+		// loopback (where the store publishes 5432) and answers on the machine's own 3000, which is
+		// where mesh-bootstrap and the builder's build containers look for it.
+		"--network", "host",
 		"--restart", "unless-stopped",
 	}, env...)
 	args = append(args, giteaImage)