diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway.py b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
index c69265b19e..08f9999e66 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
@@ -487,25 +487,44 @@ def _wsl_systemd_operational() -> bool:
     WSL2 with ``systemd=true`` in wsl.conf has working systemd.
     WSL2 without it (or WSL1) does not — systemctl commands fail.
     """
+    return _systemd_operational(system=True)
+
+
+def _systemd_operational(system: bool = False) -> bool:
+    """Return True when the requested systemd scope is usable."""
     try:
-        result = subprocess.run(
-            ["systemctl", "is-system-running"],
-            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
+        result = _run_systemctl(
+            ["is-system-running"],
+            system=system,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=5,
         )
         # "running", "degraded", "starting" all mean systemd is PID 1
         status = result.stdout.strip().lower()
         return status in ("running", "degraded", "starting", "initializing")
-    except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired, OSError):
+    except (RuntimeError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired, OSError):
         return False
 
 
+def _container_systemd_operational() -> bool:
+    """Return True when a container exposes working user or system systemd."""
+    if _systemd_operational(system=False):
+        return True
+    if _systemd_operational(system=True):
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
 def supports_systemd_services() -> bool:
-    if not is_linux() or is_termux() or is_container():
+    if not is_linux() or is_termux():
         return False
     if shutil.which("systemctl") is None:
         return False
     if is_wsl():
         return _wsl_systemd_operational()
+    if is_container():
+        return _container_systemd_operational()
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
index 9e9a14bce7..07265b2c3a 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway.py
@@ -39,6 +39,76 @@ class TestSystemdLingerStatus:
         assert gateway.get_systemd_linger_status() == (None, "not supported in Termux")
 
 
+class TestContainerSystemdSupport:
+    def test_supports_systemd_services_in_container_with_user_manager(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_linux", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_termux", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_container", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("shutil.which", lambda name: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "_systemd_operational", lambda system=False: not system)
+
+        assert gateway.supports_systemd_services() is True
+
+    def test_supports_systemd_services_in_container_with_system_manager(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_linux", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_termux", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_container", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("shutil.which", lambda name: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "_systemd_operational", lambda system=False: system)
+
+        assert gateway.supports_systemd_services() is True
+
+    def test_supports_systemd_services_in_container_without_systemd(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_linux", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_termux", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_container", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("shutil.which", lambda name: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "_systemd_operational", lambda system=False: False)
+
+        assert gateway.supports_systemd_services() is False
+
+
+def test_gateway_install_in_container_with_operational_systemd_uses_systemd(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "supports_systemd_services", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_macos", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_managed", lambda: False)
+
+    calls = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        gateway,
+        "systemd_install",
+        lambda force=False, system=False, run_as_user=None: calls.append((force, system, run_as_user)),
+    )
+
+    args = SimpleNamespace(
+        gateway_command="install",
+        force=False,
+        system=False,
+        run_as_user=None,
+    )
+    gateway.gateway_command(args)
+
+    assert calls == [(False, False, None)]
+
+
+def test_gateway_start_in_container_with_operational_systemd_uses_systemd(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "supports_systemd_services", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "is_macos", lambda: False)
+
+    calls = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway, "systemd_start", lambda system=False: calls.append(system))
+
+    args = SimpleNamespace(gateway_command="start", system=False, all=False)
+    gateway.gateway_command(args)
+
+    assert calls == [False]
+
+
 def test_systemd_status_warns_when_linger_disabled(monkeypatch, tmp_path, capsys):
     unit_path = tmp_path / "hermes-gateway.service"
     unit_path.write_text("[Unit]\n")