diff --git a/backend/build.gradle.kts b/backend/build.gradle.kts
index 09b0cfe..5b3d26b 100644
--- a/backend/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/backend/build.gradle.kts
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ dependencies {
     implementation(mn.micronaut.management)
     implementation(mn.micronaut.micrometer.core)
     implementation(mn.micronaut.micrometer.registry.prometheus)
+    // Kubernetes service discovery — beans only activate in the k8s environment,
+    // so this is inert in local/dev. Needs RBAC (read services/endpoints) in-cluster.
+    implementation(mn.micronaut.kubernetes.discovery.client)
     implementation(mn.micronaut.http.client.jdk)
     implementation(mn.micronaut.openapi)
     implementation(mn.swagger.core)