diff --git a/deploy-static-site/README.md b/deploy-static-site/README.md
index 8ac5c10..40cc0d3 100644
--- a/deploy-static-site/README.md
+++ b/deploy-static-site/README.md
@@ -38,10 +38,17 @@ Builds a Nix flake site, uploads a tarball to S3, and deploys it via Nomad using
 
 ## Infrastructure Requirements
 
-- `registry.toph.so/static-server:latest` must be pushed (see `images/flake.nix` and the `build-static-server` workflow)
 - S3 bucket (`nix-cache` by default) must exist and be writable with the supplied credentials
 - Nomad namespace `static-sites` is created automatically on first deploy
 
+## Cold-Start (maintainer note)
+
+The `static-server` image (`registry.toph.so/static-server:latest`) is built and pushed by
+the `build-static-server` workflow in this repo. It runs automatically when `deploy-static-site/images/flake.nix`
+changes, or can be triggered manually via `workflow_dispatch`.
+
+On a fresh infrastructure setup, run that workflow once before deploying any site.
+
 ## Site Flake Requirements
 
 The site repo's flake must expose a package output that produces a directory of static files: