diff --git a/apps/api/alembic/versions/2026_05_28_add_tool_definition_manifests.py b/apps/api/alembic/versions/2026_05_28_add_tool_definition_manifests.py
index b4ec709..3bcae63 100644
--- a/apps/api/alembic/versions/2026_05_28_add_tool_definition_manifests.py
+++ b/apps/api/alembic/versions/2026_05_28_add_tool_definition_manifests.py
@@ -232,14 +232,6 @@ def upgrade() -> None:
                             "writable": True,
                             "owner": "user",
                         },
-                        {
-                            "name": "ssh_keys",
-                            "target": "/home/user/.ssh",
-                            "source_type": "ssh_key",
-                            "mode": "0700",
-                            "file_mode": "0600",
-                            "readonly": True,
-                        },
                         {
                             "name": "pi_state",
                             "target": "/tmp/.pi/agents",
diff --git a/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py b/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
index 0dc0874..05e9d54 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
@@ -1347,7 +1347,9 @@ async def start_instance(
                     ToolDefinitionManifest, manifest_def.base_definition_id
                 )
                 if base_def:
-                    manifest = resolve_base(deep_merge(dict(base_def.manifest), manifest))
+                    manifest = resolve_base(
+                        deep_merge(dict(base_def.manifest), manifest)
+                    )
             home_dir = get_manifest_home_dir(manifest)
             user_cfg = manifest.get("user")
             if user_cfg:
diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/permission_fixer.py b/apps/api/src/services/permission_fixer.py
index f3da86b..85afc3b 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/permission_fixer.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/permission_fixer.py
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ def apply_mount_permissions(
             "error": None,
         }
 
+        # Skip read-only mounts — their permissions cannot be changed
+        # post-start because the bind mount is locked.
+        if mount.get("readonly", False):
+            logger.debug(
+                "Skipping permission fix for read-only mount %s (target=%s)",
+                name,
+                target,
+            )
+            results.append(result)
+            continue
+
         # Skip if no permission policy defined
         if not owner and not mode and not file_mode:
             results.append(result)
diff --git a/apps/api/tests/unit/test_permission_fixer.py b/apps/api/tests/unit/test_permission_fixer.py
index 899cf8e..6bc672c 100644
--- a/apps/api/tests/unit/test_permission_fixer.py
+++ b/apps/api/tests/unit/test_permission_fixer.py
@@ -64,6 +64,24 @@ class TestApplyMountPermissions:
             "find /home/user/.ssh -type f -exec chmod 0600" in file_mode_call[0][1][2]
         )
 
+    @patch("src.services.permission_fixer._run_in_container")
+    def test_skips_readonly_mount(self, mock_run) -> None:
+        mounts = [
+            {
+                "name": "ssh_keys",
+                "target": "/home/user/.ssh",
+                "readonly": True,
+                "mode": "0700",
+                "file_mode": "0600",
+            },
+        ]
+        results = apply_mount_permissions("abc123", mounts)
+
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0]["mount_name"] == "ssh_keys"
+        assert results[0]["success"] is True
+        mock_run.assert_not_called()
+
     @patch("src.services.permission_fixer._run_in_container")
     def test_skips_mount_with_no_policy(self, mock_run) -> None:
         mounts = [