diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/base.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/base.rb
index 7e09fc1c..27948434 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/base.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/base.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ module Kamal::Commands
         args.compact.unshift :docker
       end
 
+      def git(*args)
+        args.compact.unshift :git
+      end
+
       def tags(**details)
         Kamal::Tags.from_config(config, **details)
       end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/base.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/base.rb
index e288db18..95b079e1 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/base.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/base.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Base < Kamal::Commands::Base
   class BuilderError < StandardError; end
 
   delegate :argumentize, to: Kamal::Utils
-  delegate :args, :secrets, :dockerfile, :local_arch, :local_host, :remote_arch, :remote_host, :cache_from, :cache_to, :ssh, to: :builder_config
+  delegate :args, :secrets, :dockerfile, :local_arch, :local_host, :remote_arch, :remote_host, :cache_from, :cache_to, :ssh, :git_archive?, to: :builder_config
 
   def clean
     docker :image, :rm, "--force", config.absolute_image
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Base < Kamal::Commands::Base
     docker :pull, config.absolute_image
   end
 
+  def push
+    if git_archive?
+      pipe \
+        git(:archive, "--format=tar", :HEAD),
+        build_and_push
+    else
+      build_and_push
+    end
+  end
+
   def build_options
     [ *build_tags, *build_cache, *build_labels, *build_args, *build_secrets, *build_dockerfile, *build_ssh ]
   end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/multiarch.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/multiarch.rb
index 2f9e4d19..b80200cd 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/multiarch.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/multiarch.rb
@@ -7,15 +7,6 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Multiarch < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Base
     docker :buildx, :rm, builder_name
   end
 
-  def push
-    docker :buildx, :build,
-      "--push",
-      "--platform", platform_names,
-      "--builder", builder_name,
-      *build_options,
-      build_context
-  end
-
   def info
     combine \
       docker(:context, :ls),
@@ -34,4 +25,13 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Multiarch < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Base
         "linux/amd64,linux/arm64"
       end
     end
+
+    def build_and_push
+      docker :buildx, :build,
+        "--push",
+        "--platform", platform_names,
+        "--builder", builder_name,
+        *build_options,
+        build_context
+    end
 end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native.rb
index d67d3519..cc0f03b1 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native.rb
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Native < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Base
     # No-op on native without cache
   end
 
-  def push
-    combine \
-      docker(:build, *build_options, build_context),
-      docker(:push, config.absolute_image),
-      docker(:push, config.latest_image)
-  end
-
   def info
     # No-op on native
   end
+
+  private
+    def build_and_push
+      combine \
+        docker(:build, *build_options, build_context),
+        docker(:push, config.absolute_image),
+        docker(:push, config.latest_image)
+    end
 end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/cached.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/cached.rb
index f72d1192..b3a3d635 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/cached.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/cached.rb
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Native::Cached < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Nativ
     docker :buildx, :rm, builder_name
   end
 
-  def push
-    docker :buildx, :build,
-      "--push",
-      *build_options,
-      build_context
-  end
+  private
+    def build_and_push
+      docker :buildx, :build,
+        "--push",
+        *build_options,
+        build_context
+    end
 end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/remote.rb b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/remote.rb
index 67d68e9f..d3053d40 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/remote.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/commands/builder/native/remote.rb
@@ -11,15 +11,6 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Native::Remote < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Nativ
       remove_buildx
   end
 
-  def push
-    docker :buildx, :build,
-      "--push",
-      "--platform", platform,
-      "--builder", builder_name,
-      *build_options,
-      build_context
-  end
-
   def info
     chain \
       docker(:context, :ls),
@@ -56,4 +47,13 @@ class Kamal::Commands::Builder::Native::Remote < Kamal::Commands::Builder::Nativ
     def remove_buildx
       docker :buildx, :rm, builder_name
     end
+
+    def build_and_push
+      docker :buildx, :build,
+      "--push",
+      "--platform", platform,
+      "--builder", builder_name,
+      *build_options,
+      build_context
+    end
 end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/configuration.rb b/lib/kamal/configuration.rb
index bd5189d9..483ca770 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/configuration.rb
@@ -324,7 +324,10 @@ class Kamal::Configuration
     def git_version
       @git_version ||=
         if Kamal::Git.used?
-          [ Kamal::Git.revision, Kamal::Git.uncommitted_changes.present? ? "_uncommitted_#{SecureRandom.hex(8)}" : "" ].join
+          if Kamal::Git.uncommitted_changes.present? && !builder.git_archive?
+            uncommitted_suffix = "_uncommitted_#{SecureRandom.hex(8)}"
+          end
+          [ Kamal::Git.revision, uncommitted_suffix ].compact.join
         else
           raise "Can't use commit hash as version, no git repository found in #{Dir.pwd}"
         end
diff --git a/lib/kamal/configuration/builder.rb b/lib/kamal/configuration/builder.rb
index 33d10fbf..ea4e71d9 100644
--- a/lib/kamal/configuration/builder.rb
+++ b/lib/kamal/configuration/builder.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Kamal::Configuration::Builder
   end
 
   def context
-    @options["context"] || "."
+    @options["context"] || (git_archive? ? "-" : ".")
   end
 
   def local_arch
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ class Kamal::Configuration::Builder
     @options["ssh"]
   end
 
+  def git_archive?
+    Kamal::Git.used? && @options["context"].nil?
+  end
+
   private
     def valid?
       if @options["cache"] && @options["cache"]["type"]
diff --git a/test/cli/build_test.rb b/test/cli/build_test.rb
index 1cb99fa4..186c1e9e 100644
--- a/test/cli/build_test.rb
+++ b/test/cli/build_test.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class CliBuildTest < CliTestCase
     run_command("push").tap do |output|
       assert_hook_ran "pre-build", output, **hook_variables
       assert_match /docker --version && docker buildx version/, output
-      assert_match /docker buildx build --push --platform linux\/amd64,linux\/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh\/app:999 -t dhh\/app:latest --label service="app" --file Dockerfile \. as .*@localhost/, output
+      assert_match /git archive -tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux\/amd64,linux\/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh\/app:999 -t dhh\/app:latest --label service="app" --file Dockerfile - as .*@localhost/, output
     end
   end
 
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ class CliBuildTest < CliTestCase
       .with(:docker, "--version", "&&", :docker, :buildx, "version")
 
     SSHKit::Backend::Abstract.any_instance.stubs(:execute)
-      .with { |*args| args[0..1] == [ :docker, :buildx ] }
+      .with(:docker, :buildx, :create, "--use", "--name", "kamal-app-multiarch")
+
+    SSHKit::Backend::Abstract.any_instance.stubs(:execute)
+      .with { |*args| p args[0..6]; args[0..6] == [ :git, :archive, "--format=tar", :HEAD, "|", :docker, :buildx ] }
       .raises(SSHKit::Command::Failed.new("no builder"))
       .then
       .returns(true)
diff --git a/test/commands/builder_test.rb b/test/commands/builder_test.rb
index 7b5a28e9..b03b0c83 100644
--- a/test/commands/builder_test.rb
+++ b/test/commands/builder_test.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "cache" => { "type" => "gha" } })
     assert_equal "multiarch", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false })
     assert_equal "native", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile . && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile - && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false, "cache" => { "type" => "gha" } })
     assert_equal "native/cached", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "local" => {}, "remote" => {}, "cache" => { "type" => "gha" } })
     assert_equal "multiarch/remote", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch-remote -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch-remote -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "local" => { "arch" => "amd64" } })
     assert_equal "multiarch", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "remote" => { "arch" => "amd64" }, "cache" => { "type" => "gha" } })
     assert_equal "native/remote", builder.name
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64 --builder kamal-app-native-remote -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64 --builder kamal-app-native-remote -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -93,21 +93,21 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
   test "native push with build args" do
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false, "args" => { "a" => 1, "b" => 2 } })
     assert_equal \
-      "docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --build-arg a=\"1\" --build-arg b=\"2\" --file Dockerfile . && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --build-arg a=\"1\" --build-arg b=\"2\" --file Dockerfile - && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
   test "multiarch push with build args" do
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "args" => { "a" => 1, "b" => 2 } })
     assert_equal \
-      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --build-arg a=\"1\" --build-arg b=\"2\" --file Dockerfile .",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --build-arg a=\"1\" --build-arg b=\"2\" --file Dockerfile -",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
   test "native push with build secrets" do
     builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false, "secrets" => [ "a", "b" ] })
     assert_equal \
-      "docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --secret id=\"a\" --secret id=\"b\" --file Dockerfile . && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
+      "git archive --format=tar HEAD | docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --secret id=\"a\" --secret id=\"b\" --file Dockerfile - && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
       builder.push.join(" ")
   end
 
@@ -123,6 +123,34 @@ class CommandsBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_equal "docker inspect -f '{{ .Config.Labels.service }}' dhh/app:123 | grep -x app || (echo \"Image dhh/app:123 is missing the 'service' label\" && exit 1)", new_builder_command.validate_image.join(" ")
   end
 
+  test "multiarch context build" do
+    builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "context" => "./foo" })
+    assert_equal \
+      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --builder kamal-app-multiarch -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile ./foo",
+      builder.push.join(" ")
+  end
+
+  test "native context build" do
+    builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false, "context" => "./foo" })
+    assert_equal \
+      "docker build -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile ./foo && docker push dhh/app:123 && docker push dhh/app:latest",
+      builder.push.join(" ")
+  end
+
+  test "cached context build" do
+    builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "multiarch" => false, "context" => "./foo", "cache" => { "type" => "gha" } })
+    assert_equal \
+      "docker buildx build --push -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --cache-to type=gha --cache-from type=gha --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile ./foo",
+      builder.push.join(" ")
+  end
+
+  test "remote context build" do
+    builder = new_builder_command(builder: { "remote" => { "arch" => "amd64" }, "context" => "./foo" })
+    assert_equal \
+      "docker buildx build --push --platform linux/amd64 --builder kamal-app-native-remote -t dhh/app:123 -t dhh/app:latest --label service=\"app\" --file Dockerfile ./foo",
+      builder.push.join(" ")
+  end
+
   private
     def new_builder_command(additional_config = {})
       Kamal::Commands::Builder.new(Kamal::Configuration.new(@config.merge(additional_config), version: "123"))
diff --git a/test/configuration/builder_test.rb b/test/configuration/builder_test.rb
index a519be67..9ac02ad6 100644
--- a/test/configuration/builder_test.rb
+++ b/test/configuration/builder_test.rb
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class ConfigurationBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
   end
 
   test "context" do
-    assert_equal ".", @config.builder.context
+    assert_equal "-", @config.builder.context
   end
 
   test "setting context" do
diff --git a/test/configuration_test.rb b/test/configuration_test.rb
index 9f50e9df..6f89d669 100644
--- a/test/configuration_test.rb
+++ b/test/configuration_test.rb
@@ -103,7 +103,17 @@ class ConfigurationTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
     Kamal::Git.expects(:revision).returns("git-version")
     Kamal::Git.expects(:uncommitted_changes).returns("M   file\n")
-    assert_match /^git-version_uncommitted_[0-9a-f]{16}$/, @config.version
+    assert_equal "git-version", @config.version
+  end
+
+  test "version from uncommitted context" do
+    ENV.delete("VERSION")
+
+    config = Kamal::Configuration.new(@deploy.tap { |c| c[:builder] = { "context" => "." } })
+
+    Kamal::Git.expects(:revision).returns("git-version")
+    Kamal::Git.expects(:uncommitted_changes).returns("M   file\n")
+    assert_match /^git-version_uncommitted_[0-9a-f]{16}$/, config.version
   end
 
   test "version from env" do