diff --git a/bot_bottle/git_http_backend.py b/bot_bottle/git_http_backend.py
index 1b45a38..253d45c 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/git_http_backend.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/git_http_backend.py
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, ThreadingHTTPServer
 from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import urlsplit
 
-from .git_gate import GIT_GATE_TIMEOUT_SECS
+try:
+    from .git_gate import GIT_GATE_TIMEOUT_SECS
+except ImportError:
+    # Running as a top-level script inside the sidecar container
+    # (python3 /app/git_http_backend.py) rather than as part of a package.
+    from git_gate import GIT_GATE_TIMEOUT_SECS  # type: ignore[no-redef]
 
 
 DEFAULT_PORT = 9420