diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-deploy.yml
index 30cdaf1700..c85c38d9aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-deploy.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt install -y nodejs
           sudo npm install web3
 
+      - name: Delete contents of folder
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p data
+          rm -rf data/*
+          echo "Folder cleaned."
+
       - name: Deploy contract to devnet
         run: |
           cd hardhat.tmpl
@@ -51,9 +57,24 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Commit container state
         run: |
+          echo "check data folder before shutdown"
+          ls data
           docker stop geth-devnet
+          echo "check data folder after shutdown"
+          ls data
           docker commit geth-devnet europe-west3-docker.pkg.dev/task-460410/task-repo/app:with-contracts
 
+      - name: Configure Git
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+
+      - name: Commit and push changes
+        run: |
+          git add data
+          git commit -m "Update folder via GitHub Actions - deployed contract persistant data" || echo "No changes to commit"
+          git push origin master
+
       - name: Push image to Artifact Registry
         run: |
           docker push europe-west3-docker.pkg.dev/task-460410/task-repo/app:with-contracts
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 38cce3f064..7a5ebac21d 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - ./data:/root/.ethereum
     command: >
+      --datadir /root/.ethereum
       --dev
       --http
       --http.addr 0.0.0.0