diff --git a/lib/instances/network_test.go b/lib/instances/network_test.go
index 70ac861c..1de9921e 100644
--- a/lib/instances/network_test.go
+++ b/lib/instances/network_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -59,6 +60,48 @@ func TestCreateInstanceWithNetwork(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	t.Log("Network initialized")
 
+	// Verify that ensureDockerForwardJump restores Docker's FORWARD chain
+	// when it gets wiped (e.g., by a hypervisor firewall rebuild).
+	// Note: no extra privilege guard needed — make test-linux runs the entire
+	// suite under sudo, so iptables commands have the required permissions.
+	t.Run("DockerForwardChainRestored", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Check if DOCKER-FORWARD chain exists (Docker must be running on host)
+		checkChain := exec.Command("iptables", "-L", "DOCKER-FORWARD", "-n")
+		if checkChain.Run() != nil {
+			t.Skip("DOCKER-FORWARD chain not present (Docker not running), skipping")
+		}
+
+		// Verify jump currently exists
+		checkJump := exec.Command("iptables", "-C", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+		require.NoError(t, checkJump.Run(), "DOCKER-FORWARD jump should exist before test")
+
+		// Safety net: restore the jump if the test fails or aborts after we delete it,
+		// so we don't leave the host's Docker networking broken.
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			check := exec.Command("iptables", "-C", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+			if check.Run() != nil {
+				restore := exec.Command("iptables", "-A", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+				_ = restore.Run()
+			}
+		})
+
+		// Simulate the hypervisor flush: delete the jump
+		delJump := exec.Command("iptables", "-D", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+		require.NoError(t, delJump.Run(), "should be able to delete DOCKER-FORWARD jump")
+
+		// Confirm it's gone
+		checkGone := exec.Command("iptables", "-C", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+		require.Error(t, checkGone.Run(), "DOCKER-FORWARD jump should be gone after delete")
+
+		// Re-initialize network — this should restore the jump
+		err := manager.networkManager.Initialize(ctx, nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// Verify jump is restored
+		checkRestored := exec.Command("iptables", "-C", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+		require.NoError(t, checkRestored.Run(), "ensureDockerForwardJump should have restored the DOCKER-FORWARD jump")
+	})
+
 	// Create instance with nginx:alpine and default network
 	t.Log("Creating instance with default network...")
 	inst, err := manager.CreateInstance(ctx, CreateInstanceRequest{
diff --git a/lib/network/bridge_linux.go b/lib/network/bridge_linux.go
index c3cf3304..c315737e 100644
--- a/lib/network/bridge_linux.go
+++ b/lib/network/bridge_linux.go
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@ func (m *manager) setupIPTablesRules(ctx context.Context, subnet, bridgeName str
 
 	log.InfoContext(ctx, "iptables FORWARD ready", "outbound", fwdOutStatus, "inbound", fwdInStatus)
 
+	// Restore Docker's FORWARD chain jumps if they were lost.
+	// On systems where an external tool (e.g., hypervisor firewall management) periodically
+	// rebuilds the FORWARD chain, Docker's jump rules can be wiped out. Docker only inserts
+	// them at daemon start, so they stay missing until Docker is restarted. Since hypeman
+	// already re-ensures its own rules here, we also restore Docker's if needed.
+	m.ensureDockerForwardJump(ctx)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -409,6 +416,76 @@ func (m *manager) deleteForwardRuleByComment(comment string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ensureDockerForwardJump checks if Docker's DOCKER-FORWARD chain exists but is
+// unreachable from the FORWARD chain, and restores the jump if missing.
+// This is a no-op if Docker is not installed or the jump already exists.
+//
+// Note: this cannot mis-order DOCKER-FORWARD vs DOCKER-USER because it only acts
+// when the jump is completely absent (chain was flushed). If DOCKER-USER's jump
+// still exists, DOCKER-FORWARD's jump is almost certainly still there too — they
+// get wiped together — and the early -C check returns before we insert anything.
+func (m *manager) ensureDockerForwardJump(ctx context.Context) {
+	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
+
+	// Check if DOCKER-FORWARD chain exists (Docker is installed and configured)
+	checkChain := exec.Command("iptables", "-L", "DOCKER-FORWARD", "-n")
+	checkChain.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		AmbientCaps: []uintptr{unix.CAP_NET_ADMIN},
+	}
+	if checkChain.Run() != nil {
+		return // Chain doesn't exist — Docker not installed or not configured
+	}
+
+	// Check if jump already exists in FORWARD
+	checkJump := exec.Command("iptables", "-C", "FORWARD", "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+	checkJump.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		AmbientCaps: []uintptr{unix.CAP_NET_ADMIN},
+	}
+	if checkJump.Run() == nil {
+		return // Jump already present
+	}
+
+	// DOCKER-FORWARD chain exists but the jump from FORWARD is missing — restore it.
+	// Insert right after hypeman's last rule so the jump is evaluated before any
+	// explicit DROP/REJECT rules that an external firewall tool may have added.
+	insertPos := m.lastHypemanForwardRulePosition() + 1
+	addJump := exec.Command("iptables", "-I", "FORWARD", fmt.Sprintf("%d", insertPos), "-j", "DOCKER-FORWARD")
+	addJump.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		AmbientCaps: []uintptr{unix.CAP_NET_ADMIN},
+	}
+	if err := addJump.Run(); err != nil {
+		log.WarnContext(ctx, "failed to restore Docker FORWARD chain jump", "error", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.WarnContext(ctx, "restored missing jump to DOCKER-FORWARD in FORWARD chain", "position", insertPos)
+}
+
+// lastHypemanForwardRulePosition returns the line number of the last hypeman-managed
+// rule in the FORWARD chain, or 0 if none are found.
+func (m *manager) lastHypemanForwardRulePosition() int {
+	cmd := exec.Command("iptables", "-L", "FORWARD", "--line-numbers", "-n", "-v")
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		AmbientCaps: []uintptr{unix.CAP_NET_ADMIN},
+	}
+	output, err := cmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	lastPos := 0
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(output), "\n") {
+		if !strings.Contains(line, "hypeman-") {
+			continue
+		}
+		var pos int
+		if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(line, "%d", &pos); err == nil && pos > lastPos {
+			lastPos = pos
+		}
+	}
+	return lastPos
+}
+
 // createTAPDevice creates TAP device and attaches to bridge.
 // downloadBps: rate limit for download (external→VM), applied as TBF on TAP egress
 // uploadBps/uploadCeilBps: rate limit for upload (VM→external), applied as HTB class on bridge