diff --git a/docker/agents/entrypoint.sh b/docker/agents/entrypoint.sh
index a664a09..89a520b 100644
--- a/docker/agents/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/agents/entrypoint.sh
@@ -342,9 +342,28 @@ bootstrap_ops_repos
 # Bootstrap factory repo — switch DISINTO_DIR to live checkout (#593)
 bootstrap_factory_repo
 
+# Validate that projects directory has at least one real .toml file (not .example)
+# This prevents the silent-zombie mode where the polling loop matches zero files
+# and does nothing forever.
+validate_projects_dir() {
+  local toml_count
+  toml_count=$(compgen -G "${DISINTO_DIR}/projects/*.toml" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
+  if [ "$toml_count" -eq 0 ]; then
+    log "FATAL: No real .toml files found in ${DISINTO_DIR}/projects/"
+    log "Expected at least one project config file (e.g., disinto.toml)"
+    log "The directory only contains *.toml.example template files."
+    log "Mount the host ./projects volume or copy real .toml files into the container."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  log "Projects directory validated: ${toml_count} real .toml file(s) found"
+}
+
 # Initialize state directory for check_active guards
 init_state_dir
 
+# Validate projects directory before entering polling loop
+validate_projects_dir
+
 # Parse AGENT_ROLES env var (default: all agents)
 # Expected format: comma-separated list like "review,dev,gardener"
 AGENT_ROLES="${AGENT_ROLES:-review,dev,gardener,architect,planner,predictor,supervisor}"
diff --git a/lib/generators.sh b/lib/generators.sh
index 59339ac..8042457 100644
--- a/lib/generators.sh
+++ b/lib/generators.sh
@@ -134,9 +134,13 @@ _generate_local_model_services() {
       - \${CLAUDE_CONFIG_FILE:-\${HOME}/.claude.json}:/home/agent/.claude.json:ro
       - \${CLAUDE_BIN_DIR}:/usr/local/bin/claude:ro
       - \${AGENT_SSH_DIR:-\${HOME}/.ssh}:/home/agent/.ssh:ro
+      - ./projects:/home/agent/disinto/projects:ro
+      - ./.env:/home/agent/disinto/.env:ro
+      - ./state:/home/agent/disinto/state
     environment:
       FORGE_URL: http://forgejo:3000
       FORGE_REPO: ${FORGE_REPO:-disinto-admin/disinto}
+      FACTORY_REPO: ${FORGE_REPO:-disinto-admin/disinto}
       # Per-agent credentials keyed by forge_user (#834 Gap 3).
       FORGE_TOKEN: \${FORGE_TOKEN_${user_upper}:-}
       FORGE_PASS: \${FORGE_PASS_${user_upper}:-}