diff --git a/nix/modules/hive-matrix.nix b/nix/modules/hive-matrix.nix
index 875b165a..7f60fc29 100644
--- a/nix/modules/hive-matrix.nix
+++ b/nix/modules/hive-matrix.nix
@@ -415,10 +415,11 @@ in
     # requirement. Soft `after` ordering (not `requires`) keeps the matrix
     # container's lifecycle decoupled from the gateway's. `network.enable`
     # asserts `gateway.enable`, so the gateway container unit always exists
-    # here. (Declarative `containers.<n>` → `nixos-container@<n>.service`,
-    # per the hive-ci precedent.)
-    systemd.services."nixos-container@hive-matrix".after = lib.mkIf networkCfg.enable [
-      "nixos-container@hive-gateway.service"
+    # here. (Declarative `containers.<n>` → `container@<n>.service` — the
+    # nspawn template NixOS generates, confirmed from the live
+    # `container@hive-matrix.service` host unit.)
+    systemd.services."container@hive-matrix".after = lib.mkIf networkCfg.enable [
+      "container@hive-gateway.service"
     ];
   };
 }