diff --git a/.githooks/pre-push b/.githooks/pre-push
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5c26668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-push
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# pre-push hook: runs the test suite before allowing a push.
+# If tests fail, the push is aborted.
+#
+
+echo "Running tests before push..."
+
+# Check if the app container is running
+if ! docker compose ps --status running 2>/dev/null | grep -q rec-app; then
+    echo "ERROR: rec-app container is not running."
+    echo "Start it with: docker compose up -d"
+    echo "Skipping tests — push blocked."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+docker compose exec -T app pytest tests/ -v --tb=short
+status=$?
+
+if [ $status -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "Tests failed — push aborted."
+    echo "Fix the failures and try again, or push with --no-verify to skip."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 3e7d8a0..d1f0ff0 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ start_docker() {
         build_flag="--build"
     fi
 
+    # Ensure git hooks are configured (idempotent)
+    if git rev-parse --git-dir &>/dev/null; then
+        git config core.hooksPath .githooks
+    fi
+
     echo "Starting all services with Docker Compose..."
     echo ""