diff --git a/update_semaphore.yml b/update_semaphore.yml
index 886bef3..dea48bd 100644
--- a/update_semaphore.yml
+++ b/update_semaphore.yml
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@
     semaphore_compose_file: "/data/compose/semaphore/docker-compose.yml"
     semaphore_service: "semaphore"
 
-    # Docker command prefix (consistent behavior and quiet hints)
-    docker_prefix: "unalias docker 2>/dev/null || true; DOCKER_CLI_HINTS=0; command docker"
-
   tasks:
     - name: Ensure sshpass is installed (for password-based SSH)  # English comments
       ansible.builtin.apt:
@@ -32,11 +29,11 @@
         state: present
         update_cache: yes
 
-    - name: Run Semaphore self-update on VM (single compose command)  # last thing this job does
+    - name: Run Semaphore self-update on VM in background (nohup)
       ansible.builtin.command:
         argv:
           - sshpass
-          - -e                     # read password from SSHPASS environment
+          - -e
           - ssh
           - -o
           - StrictHostKeyChecking=no
@@ -45,14 +42,16 @@
           - "{{ vm_user }}@{{ vm_ip }}"
           - bash
           - -lc
-          - >
-            {{ ('sudo ' if use_sudo else '') }}
-            {{ docker_prefix }}
-            compose -p {{ semaphore_project }}
-            -f {{ semaphore_compose_file }}
-            up -d --no-deps --force-recreate --pull always {{ semaphore_service }} >/dev/null
+          - |
+            nohup bash -c '
+              unalias docker 2>/dev/null || true
+              DOCKER_CLI_HINTS=0 docker compose \
+                -p {{ semaphore_project }} \
+                -f {{ semaphore_compose_file }} \
+                up -d --no-deps --force-recreate --pull always {{ semaphore_service }}
+            ' >/dev/null 2>&1 &
       environment:
-        SSHPASS: "{{ vm_pass }}"    # supply password via environment
+        SSHPASS: "{{ vm_pass }}"
       register: semaphore_update
       changed_when: false
       no_log: "{{ DEBUG == 0 }}"