diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 99a0704cb..6fc591fbb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -40,5 +40,6 @@ dist
 
 public/uploads/*
 !public/uploads/.gitkeep
+!public/.gitkeep
 uploads
 test_uploads
diff --git a/public/.gitkeep b/public/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 7b5cf6e3f..212922f91 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ async function bootstrap(): Promise<void> {
       prefix: '/uploads/',
     });
   }
+  logger.log(
+    `Serving the local folder 'public' under '/public'`,
+    'AppBootstrap',
+  );
+  app.useStaticAssets('public', {
+    prefix: '/public/',
+  });
   await app.listen(appConfig.port);
   logger.log(`Listening on port ${appConfig.port}`, 'AppBootstrap');
 }