diff --git a/backend/ingestion.py b/backend/ingestion.py
index ffa5ed1..7f954e8 100644
--- a/backend/ingestion.py
+++ b/backend/ingestion.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from watchdog.events import FileSystemEventHandler
 from watchdog.observers import Observer
+from watchdog.observers.polling import PollingObserver
 
 # Add parent to path for imports
 sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
@@ -201,12 +202,20 @@ def main() -> None:
     if count:
         logger.info("Processed %d existing file(s) from import dir", count)
 
-    # Start watching
+    # Start watching — fall back to polling if inotify is unavailable (e.g. NFS,
+    # certain Docker volume drivers, or kernels that don't support recursive inotify)
     handler = RawFileHandler()
     observer = Observer()
     observer.schedule(handler, IMPORT_DIR, recursive=True)
-    observer.start()
-    logger.info("👁  Watching for new files in: %s", os.path.abspath(IMPORT_DIR))
+    try:
+        observer.start()
+        logger.info("👁  Watching (inotify) for new files in: %s", os.path.abspath(IMPORT_DIR))
+    except OSError as exc:
+        logger.warning("inotify unavailable (%s), falling back to polling observer", exc)
+        observer = PollingObserver()
+        observer.schedule(handler, IMPORT_DIR, recursive=True)
+        observer.start()
+        logger.info("👁  Watching (polling) for new files in: %s", os.path.abspath(IMPORT_DIR))
     logger.info("Press Ctrl+C to stop")
 
     try: