diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 9579a9a..ba00aa2 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -133,8 +133,30 @@ echo "✅ Directory structure created"
 
 # Copy built application
 echo "📋 Copying application files..."
-cp -r dist/* "$WEBROOT/"
-echo "✅ Application files copied ($(du -sh dist | cut -f1))"
+if [ -d "dist" ] && [ "$(ls -A dist)" ]; then
+    # Use rsync for better copying, or fallback to cp
+    if command -v rsync &> /dev/null; then
+        rsync -av --delete dist/ "$WEBROOT/"
+        echo "✅ Application files copied via rsync ($(du -sh dist | cut -f1))"
+    else
+        # More reliable copy method
+        cp -r dist/. "$WEBROOT/"
+        echo "✅ Application files copied via cp ($(du -sh dist | cut -f1))"
+    fi
+    
+    # Verify copy was successful
+    if [ ! -f "$WEBROOT/index.html" ] && [ ! -d "$WEBROOT/server" ]; then
+        echo "❌ Error: Application files not properly copied"
+        echo "🔍 Dist contents: $(ls -la dist/)"
+        echo "🔍 Webroot contents: $(ls -la $WEBROOT/)"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    echo "❌ Error: dist/ directory is empty or doesn't exist"
+    echo "🔍 Current directory: $(pwd)"
+    echo "🔍 Contents: $(ls -la)"
+    exit 1
+fi
 
 # Copy essential data files
 echo "🗂️  Setting up data files..."