diff --git a/workspace/sprint_1_2/CODEBASE/deps/implementation/backend_deploy/gitea_modal_build.py b/workspace/sprint_1_2/CODEBASE/deps/implementation/backend_deploy/gitea_modal_build.py
index db3fe34..a077f2c 100644
--- a/workspace/sprint_1_2/CODEBASE/deps/implementation/backend_deploy/gitea_modal_build.py
+++ b/workspace/sprint_1_2/CODEBASE/deps/implementation/backend_deploy/gitea_modal_build.py
@@ -35,17 +35,26 @@ APP_NAME = "msk-lumina-backend-builder"
 # =============================================================================
 # Modal Image Definition
 # =============================================================================
-builder_image = (
-    # 1. Start from Kaniko debug (includes a basic shell, necessary for Modal)
+# 1. Start from Kaniko to extract the binary, and map it to a local folder via an App build
+kaniko_image = (
     modal.Image.from_registry("gcr.io/kaniko-project/executor:debug")
-    
-    # 2. Inject python-pip and dependencies natively on top of the image
+    .add_local_dir(os.getcwd(), remote_path="/workspace")
+)
+
+# 2. Build your final builder image on a clean Debian system that HAS apt-get
+builder_image = (
+    modal.Image.debian_slim()
     .apt_install("curl", "ca-certificates")
     .pip_install("boto3")
     
-    # 3. Mount your local project directory context to /workspace
+    # Use standard dockerfile_commands to copy the binary directly from the Kaniko base image layer
+    .dockerfile_commands(
+        [
+            "COPY --from=gcr.io/kaniko-project/executor:debug /kaniko/executor /usr/local/bin/kaniko"
+        ]
+    )
     .add_local_dir(
-        os.getcwd(), # Or your dynamic project root lookup path
+        os.getcwd(),
         remote_path="/workspace",
     )
 )