diff --git a/Containerfile b/Containerfile
index 4cbe913..e1e6907 100644
--- a/Containerfile
+++ b/Containerfile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ RUN pip install --no-cache-dir \
     "aiosqlite>=0.19"
 
 ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
+ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1
 ENV PYTHONPATH=/app/src
 
 VOLUME /app/src
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9af6065..b231c89 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ run: ## Run bouncer locally
 	$(BOUNCER) --config config/bouncer.toml
 
 build: ## Build container image
-	podman build -t $(APP_NAME) -f Containerfile .
+	podman-compose build
 
 up: ## Start container (podman-compose)
 	podman-compose up -d
diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index 37e99a8..9474871 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ services:
     network_mode: host
     logging:
       driver: k8s-file
+    environment:
+      PYTHONUNBUFFERED: "1"
+      PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE: "1"
+      PYTHONPATH: /app/src
     volumes:
       - ./src:/app/src:Z,ro
       - ./config:/data:Z
diff --git a/config/bouncer.example.toml b/config/bouncer.example.toml
index 83f3caa..075899d 100644
--- a/config/bouncer.example.toml
+++ b/config/bouncer.example.toml
@@ -13,13 +13,15 @@ port = 1080
 
 # Registration uses a random nick and generic ident/realname.
 # After surviving the probation window (no k-line), the bouncer
-# switches to your configured nick and joins channels.
+# derives a stable nick from the exit endpoint hostname. The same
+# exit IP always produces the same nick across reconnects.
+# Set nick to override (optional, used as fallback only).
 
 [networks.libera]
 host = "irc.libera.chat"
 port = 6697
 tls = true
-nick = "mynick"
+# nick = "mynick"       # optional: override host-derived nick
 channels = ["#test"]
 autojoin = true
 
@@ -27,5 +29,4 @@ autojoin = true
 # host = "irc.oftc.net"
 # port = 6697
 # tls = true
-# nick = "mynick"
 # channels = ["#debian"]
diff --git a/src/bouncer/config.py b/src/bouncer/config.py
index 3bd80f8..a5ec96b 100644
--- a/src/bouncer/config.py
+++ b/src/bouncer/config.py
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ class NetworkConfig:
     host: str
     port: int = 6667
     tls: bool = False
-    nick: str = "bouncer"
-    user: str = "bouncer"
-    realname: str = "bouncer"
+    nick: str = ""
+    user: str = ""
+    realname: str = ""
     channels: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     autojoin: bool = True
     password: str | None = None
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ def load(path: Path) -> Config:
             host=net_raw["host"],
             port=net_raw.get("port", 6697 if net_raw.get("tls", False) else 6667),
             tls=net_raw.get("tls", False),
-            nick=net_raw.get("nick", "bouncer"),
-            user=net_raw.get("user", net_raw.get("nick", "bouncer")),
-            realname=net_raw.get("realname", "bouncer"),
+            nick=net_raw.get("nick", ""),
+            user=net_raw.get("user", ""),
+            realname=net_raw.get("realname", ""),
             channels=net_raw.get("channels", []),
             autojoin=net_raw.get("autojoin", True),
             password=net_raw.get("password"),
diff --git a/src/bouncer/network.py b/src/bouncer/network.py
index 226befb..d8173fb 100644
--- a/src/bouncer/network.py
+++ b/src/bouncer/network.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
+import hashlib
 import logging
 import random
 from enum import Enum, auto
@@ -98,15 +99,41 @@ def _random_nick() -> str:
     return base
 
 
-def _random_user() -> str:
-    """Generate a pronounceable ident."""
-    return _markov_word(4, 7)
+_GENERIC_IDENTS = ["user", "ident"]
+_GENERIC_REALNAMES = ["realname", "unknown"]
 
 
-def _random_realname() -> str:
-    """Generate a plausible first-name-like realname."""
-    name = _markov_word(4, 7)
-    return name[0].upper() + name[1:]
+def _nick_for_host(host: str) -> str:
+    """Generate a deterministic pronounceable nick from a hostname.
+
+    The same hostname always produces the same nick. Uses the host string
+    as a seed for the markov generator so nicks are stable across reconnects
+    to known endpoints.
+    """
+    seed = int(hashlib.sha256(host.encode()).hexdigest(), 16)
+    rng = random.Random(seed)
+    length = rng.randint(5, 8)
+    ch = rng.choice(_STARTERS)
+    word = [ch]
+    consonant_run = 0 if ch in _VOWELS else 1
+
+    for _ in range(length - 1):
+        followers = _BIGRAMS.get(ch, "aeiou")
+        if consonant_run >= 2:
+            vowels = [c for c in followers if c in _VOWELS]
+            ch = rng.choice(vowels) if vowels else rng.choice("aeiou")
+        else:
+            ch = rng.choice(followers)
+        if ch in _VOWELS:
+            consonant_run = 0
+        else:
+            consonant_run += 1
+        word.append(ch)
+
+    base = "".join(word)
+    if rng.random() < 0.3:
+        base += str(rng.randint(0, 99))
+    return base
 
 
 class Network:
@@ -121,7 +148,7 @@ class Network:
         self.cfg = cfg
         self.proxy_cfg = proxy_cfg
         self.on_message = on_message
-        self.nick: str = cfg.nick
+        self.nick: str = cfg.nick or "*"
         self.channels: set[str] = set()
         self.state: State = State.DISCONNECTED
         self._reader: asyncio.StreamReader | None = None
@@ -201,7 +228,10 @@ class Network:
             if self.cfg.password:
                 await self.send_raw("PASS", self.cfg.password)
             await self.send_raw("NICK", self._connect_nick)
-            await self.send_raw("USER", _random_user(), "0", "*", _random_realname())
+            await self.send_raw(
+                "USER", random.choice(_GENERIC_IDENTS), "0", "*",
+                random.choice(_GENERIC_REALNAMES),
+            )
 
             # Start reading
             self._read_task = asyncio.create_task(self._read_loop())
@@ -293,14 +323,20 @@ class Network:
         await self._go_ready()
 
     async def _go_ready(self) -> None:
-        """Transition to ready: switch to desired nick, then join channels."""
+        """Transition to ready: switch to host-derived nick, then join channels."""
         self.state = State.READY
 
-        # Switch from random nick to desired nick
-        if self._connect_nick != self.cfg.nick:
-            log.info("[%s] switching nick: %s -> %s", self.cfg.name, self.nick, self.cfg.nick)
-            await self.send_raw("NICK", self.cfg.nick)
-            # nick will be updated when we get the NICK confirmation from server
+        # Derive a stable nick from the exit endpoint
+        if self.visible_host:
+            desired = _nick_for_host(self.visible_host)
+        elif self.cfg.nick:
+            desired = self.cfg.nick
+        else:
+            desired = _random_nick()
+        log.info("[%s] switching nick: %s -> %s (host=%s)", self.cfg.name, self.nick, desired,
+                 self.visible_host or "unknown")
+        await self.send_raw("NICK", desired)
+        # nick will be updated when we get the NICK confirmation from server
 
         # Join configured channels
         if self.cfg.autojoin and self.cfg.channels: