diff --git a/visual-retrieval-colpali/.env.example b/visual-retrieval-colpali/.env.example
index 71b1af940..b6e1fbc3f 100644
--- a/visual-retrieval-colpali/.env.example
+++ b/visual-retrieval-colpali/.env.example
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ VESPA_CLOUD_MTLS_KEY="-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----
 -----END PRIVATE KEY-----"
 VESPA_CLOUD_MTLS_CERT="-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
 ...
------END CERTIFICATE-----"
\ No newline at end of file
+-----END CERTIFICATE-----"
+HOT_RELOAD=true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/visual-retrieval-colpali/main.py b/visual-retrieval-colpali/main.py
index 8fa9d6067..ec87bddd9 100644
--- a/visual-retrieval-colpali/main.py
+++ b/visual-retrieval-colpali/main.py
@@ -394,4 +394,6 @@ def get():
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     # ModelManager.get_instance()  # Initialize once at startup
-    serve(port=7860)
+    HOT_RELOAD = os.getenv("HOT_RELOAD", "False").lower() == "true"
+    print(f"Starting app with hot reload: {HOT_RELOAD}")
+    serve(port=7860, reload=HOT_RELOAD)