diff --git a/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py b/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
index 97d08f0..155f1e7 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/api/tool_instances.py
@@ -606,14 +606,17 @@ async def create_instance(
                 logger.info("Successfully built image %s for instance %s", image_tag, instance_name)
             
             # Generate compose for dockerfile-built image
+            # Only include ports if tool requires one (skip for terminal-only tools)
+            ports_section = f"""    ports:
+      - "{tool_port}:{tool_type.default_port}"
+""" if tool_type.default_port and tool_type.default_port > 0 else ""
+            
             compose_content = f"""version: "3.8"
 services:
   app:
     image: {image_tag}
     container_name: {instance_name.lower()}
-    ports:
-      - "{tool_port}:{tool_type.default_port}"
-    volumes:
+{ports_section}    volumes:
       - {repo_path}:/workspace
     restart: unless-stopped
 """