diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go b/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
index 7d10a6d27..552eb9ee1 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ func newUpCommand() *cobra.Command {
 				return errors.New("unable to determine standalone runner endpoint")
 			}
 
+			syncDockerConfigForRegistry(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd))
 			if err := downloadModelsOnlyIfNotFound(desktopClient, models); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go b/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
index 6de1676ff..1a163fe69 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ func newPullCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 func pullModel(cmd *cobra.Command, desktopClient *desktop.Client, model string) error {
 	printer := asPrinter(cmd)
+	syncDockerConfigForRegistry(cmd.Context(), printer)
 	response, _, err := desktopClient.Pull(model, printer)
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/push.go b/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
index ef9c0b91f..f13b2adea 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func newPushCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 func pushModel(cmd *cobra.Command, desktopClient *desktop.Client, model string) error {
 	printer := asPrinter(cmd)
+	syncDockerConfigForRegistry(cmd.Context(), printer)
 	response, _, err := desktopClient.Push(model, printer)
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/utils.go b/cmd/cli/commands/utils.go
index fbe1a932e..39bdf0d4e 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/utils.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/desktop"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone"
+	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/pkg/types"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/pkg/distribution/distribution"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/pkg/distribution/oci/reference"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/pkg/inference/backends/vllm"
@@ -247,6 +249,37 @@ func addRunnerFlags(cmd *cobra.Command, opts runnerFlagOptions) {
 	}
 }
 
+// syncDockerConfigForRegistry copies the host's Docker config into the running
+// container. Only applicable for Moby engine setups; a no-op otherwise.
+func syncDockerConfigForRegistry(ctx context.Context, printer standalone.StatusPrinter) {
+	if modelRunner == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	engineKind := modelRunner.EngineKind()
+	if engineKind != types.ModelRunnerEngineKindMoby {
+		return
+	}
+	dockerClient, err := desktop.DockerClientForContext(dockerCLI, dockerCLI.CurrentContext())
+	if err != nil {
+		printer.Printf("Warning: failed to create Docker client for credential sync: %v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer dockerClient.Close()
+
+	containerID, _, _, err := standalone.FindControllerContainer(ctx, dockerClient)
+	if err != nil {
+		printer.Printf("Warning: failed to find model runner container for credential sync: %v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if containerID == "" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := standalone.SyncDockerConfigToContainer(ctx, dockerClient, containerID, engineKind); err != nil {
+		printer.Printf("Warning: failed to sync Docker credentials to runner: %v\n", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // newTable creates a new table with Docker CLI-style formatting:
 // no borders, no column separators, no header line, left-aligned, and 2-space padding.
 func newTable(w io.Writer) *tablewriter.Table {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers.go b/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers.go
index cc6df5eb0..e0ff912f9 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers.go
@@ -28,17 +28,24 @@ import (
 // controllerContainerName is the name to use for the controller container.
 const controllerContainerName = "docker-model-runner"
 
-// copyDockerConfigToContainer copies the Docker config file from the host to the container
-// and sets up proper ownership and permissions for the modelrunner user.
-// It does nothing for Desktop and Cloud engine kinds.
-func copyDockerConfigToContainer(ctx context.Context, dockerClient *client.Client, containerID string, engineKind types.ModelRunnerEngineKind) error {
+// SyncDockerConfigToContainer copies the host's ~/.docker/config.json into the
+// running container. It is a no-op for Desktop and Cloud engine kinds.
+func SyncDockerConfigToContainer(ctx context.Context, dockerClient *client.Client, containerID string, engineKind types.ModelRunnerEngineKind) error {
 	// Do nothing for Desktop and Cloud engine kinds
 	if engineKind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindDesktop || engineKind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindCloud ||
 		os.Getenv("_MODEL_RUNNER_TREAT_DESKTOP_AS_MOBY") == "1" {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	dockerConfigPath := os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.docker/config.json")
+	dockerConfigDir := os.Getenv("DOCKER_CONFIG")
+	if dockerConfigDir == "" {
+		homeDir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get home directory: %w", err)
+		}
+		dockerConfigDir = filepath.Join(homeDir, ".docker")
+	}
+	dockerConfigPath := filepath.Join(dockerConfigDir, "config.json")
 	if s, err := os.Stat(dockerConfigPath); err != nil || s.Mode()&os.ModeType != 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -622,7 +629,7 @@ func CreateControllerContainer(ctx context.Context, dockerClient *client.Client,
 
 	// Copy Docker config file if it exists and we're the container creator.
 	if created && !vllmOnWSL {
-		if err := copyDockerConfigToContainer(ctx, dockerClient, resp.ID, engineKind); err != nil {
+		if err := SyncDockerConfigToContainer(ctx, dockerClient, resp.ID, engineKind); err != nil {
 			// Log warning but continue - don't fail container creation
 			printer.Printf("Warning: failed to copy Docker config: %v\n", err)
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers_test.go b/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31df15e87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/cli/pkg/standalone/containers_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package standalone
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/pkg/types"
+)
+
+// TestSyncDockerConfigToContainer_NoopForDesktopAndCloud verifies that
+// SyncDockerConfigToContainer skips Desktop and Cloud engine kinds.
+func TestSyncDockerConfigToContainer_NoopForDesktopAndCloud(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, engineKind := range []types.ModelRunnerEngineKind{
+		types.ModelRunnerEngineKindDesktop,
+		types.ModelRunnerEngineKindCloud,
+	} {
+		t.Run(engineKind.String(), func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := SyncDockerConfigToContainer(t.Context(), nil, "container-id", engineKind)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("SyncDockerConfigToContainer(%v) returned unexpected error: %v", engineKind, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSyncDockerConfigToContainer_NoopWhenConfigMissing verifies that
+// SyncDockerConfigToContainer skips when the host config file is absent.
+func TestSyncDockerConfigToContainer_NoopWhenConfigMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("DOCKER_CONFIG", t.TempDir())
+
+	err := SyncDockerConfigToContainer(t.Context(), nil, "container-id", types.ModelRunnerEngineKindMoby)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SyncDockerConfigToContainer returned unexpected error for missing config: %v", err)
+	}
+}