diff --git a/pkg/docker/elevate.go b/pkg/docker/elevate.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..933e9b591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/docker/elevate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package docker
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/devsy-org/devsy/pkg/log"
+)
+
+// elevationAuthTimeout is generous enough for interactive credential entry,
+// unlike the short per-command probe timeouts.
+const elevationAuthTimeout = 2 * time.Minute
+
+// Supported privilege-elevation helpers.
+const (
+	elevationPkexec = "pkexec"
+	elevationSudo   = "sudo"
+	elevationDoas   = "doas"
+)
+
+// Elevator runs docker commands through a privilege-elevation helper (pkexec,
+// sudo, doas). It authenticates once, up front, so an operation's many commands
+// share a single prompt via the warmed OS credential cache.
+type Elevator struct {
+	prefix []string // elevation command and leading args; always non-empty
+
+	once sync.Once
+	err  error
+}
+
+// ElevatorFromName maps a helper name to an Elevator; "" and "none" return
+// (nil, nil), unknown names error.
+func ElevatorFromName(name string) (*Elevator, error) {
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name)) {
+	case "", "none":
+		return nil, nil
+	case elevationPkexec:
+		return &Elevator{prefix: []string{elevationPkexec}}, nil
+	case elevationSudo:
+		return &Elevator{prefix: []string{elevationSudo}}, nil
+	case elevationDoas:
+		return &Elevator{prefix: []string{elevationDoas}}, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"unknown privilege elevation %q (want pkexec, sudo, doas, or none)",
+			name,
+		)
+	}
+}
+
+// wrap builds the elevated invocation of dockerCommand. env (KEY=VAL entries,
+// e.g. DOCKER_HOST) is forwarded through env(1) because sudo/pkexec/doas reset
+// the child environment and would otherwise drop provider configuration.
+func (e *Elevator) wrap(dockerCommand string, env, args []string) (string, []string) {
+	full := make([]string, 0, len(e.prefix)+len(env)+len(args)+1)
+	full = append(full, e.prefix[1:]...)
+	if len(env) > 0 {
+		full = append(full, "env")
+		full = append(full, env...)
+	}
+	full = append(full, dockerCommand)
+	full = append(full, args...)
+	return e.prefix[0], full
+}
+
+// ensureAuthenticated warms the credential cache once. It elevates the
+// client-only "--version" (no daemon needed) on its own timeout, so a short
+// caller deadline cannot kill the prompt.
+func (e *Elevator) ensureAuthenticated(dockerCommand string, env []string) error {
+	e.once.Do(func() {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), elevationAuthTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+
+		name, args := e.wrap(dockerCommand, env, []string{"--version"})
+		//nolint:gosec // command and args come from trusted provider config
+		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, name, args...)
+		if env != nil {
+			cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), env...)
+		}
+		cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin // attach terminal for the credential prompt
+		cmd.Stdout = io.Discard
+		cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+		log.Debugf("authenticating privilege elevation via %s", e.prefix[0])
+		if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+			e.err = fmt.Errorf("privilege elevation via %s failed: %w", e.prefix[0], err)
+		}
+	})
+	return e.err
+}
+
+// EnsureElevated authenticates the configured elevator once; concurrent callers
+// block on the single prompt. No-op and safe when no elevator is set.
+func (r *DockerHelper) EnsureElevated() error {
+	if r.Elevator == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return r.Elevator.ensureAuthenticated(r.DockerCommand, r.Environment)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/docker/elevate_test.go b/pkg/docker/elevate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8ab0a6fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/docker/elevate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package docker
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const (
+	dockerCmd  = string(RuntimeDocker)
+	dockerHost = "DOCKER_HOST=tcp://host:2375"
+)
+
+func TestElevatorFromName(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		wantNil    bool
+		wantPrefix []string
+		wantErr    bool
+	}{
+		{name: "", wantNil: true},
+		{name: "none", wantNil: true},
+		{name: "  None  ", wantNil: true},
+		{name: elevationPkexec, wantPrefix: []string{elevationPkexec}},
+		{name: "SUDO", wantPrefix: []string{elevationSudo}},
+		{name: elevationDoas, wantPrefix: []string{elevationDoas}},
+		{name: "gksu", wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			e, err := ElevatorFromName(tt.name)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			if tt.wantNil {
+				assert.Nil(t, e)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NotNil(t, e)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantPrefix, e.prefix)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestElevatorWrap(t *testing.T) {
+	e, err := ElevatorFromName(elevationPkexec)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	name, args := e.wrap(dockerCmd, nil, []string{"ps", "-q"})
+	assert.Equal(t, elevationPkexec, name)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{dockerCmd, "ps", "-q"}, args)
+
+	// No docker args.
+	name, args = e.wrap("/usr/bin/docker", nil, nil)
+	assert.Equal(t, elevationPkexec, name)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"/usr/bin/docker"}, args)
+
+	// Environment is forwarded through env(1).
+	name, args = e.wrap(dockerCmd, []string{dockerHost}, []string{"ps"})
+	assert.Equal(t, elevationPkexec, name)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"env", dockerHost, dockerCmd, "ps"}, args)
+}
+
+func TestEnsureElevatedNoOpWithoutElevator(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &DockerHelper{DockerCommand: dockerCmd}
+	assert.NoError(t, r.EnsureElevated())
+}
+
+func TestBuildCmdWithoutElevator(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &DockerHelper{DockerCommand: dockerCmd}
+	cmd := r.buildCmd(t.Context(), "ps", "-q")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{dockerCmd, "ps", "-q"}, cmd.Args)
+}
+
+func TestBuildCmdWithElevator(t *testing.T) {
+	e, err := ElevatorFromName(elevationSudo)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	// Mark authentication as already done so buildCmd does not attempt an
+	// interactive prompt during the test.
+	e.once.Do(func() {})
+
+	r := &DockerHelper{DockerCommand: dockerCmd, Elevator: e}
+	cmd := r.buildCmd(t.Context(), "ps", "-q")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{elevationSudo, dockerCmd, "ps", "-q"}, cmd.Args)
+}
+
+func TestBuildCmdWithElevatorForwardsEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	e, err := ElevatorFromName(elevationSudo)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	e.once.Do(func() {})
+
+	r := &DockerHelper{
+		DockerCommand: dockerCmd,
+		Environment:   []string{dockerHost},
+		Elevator:      e,
+	}
+	cmd := r.buildCmd(t.Context(), "ps")
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		[]string{elevationSudo, "env", dockerHost, dockerCmd, "ps"},
+		cmd.Args,
+	)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/docker/helper.go b/pkg/docker/helper.go
index e2c574242..c6a7a7988 100644
--- a/pkg/docker/helper.go
+++ b/pkg/docker/helper.go
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ type DockerHelper struct {
 	Environment []string
 	Builder     DockerBuilder
 	Runtime     ContainerRuntime
+	// Elevator, when set, runs docker commands through a privilege-elevation
+	// helper (pkexec/sudo/doas). Nil disables elevation.
+	Elevator *Elevator
 }
 
 func (r *DockerHelper) GPUSupportEnabled() (bool, error) {
@@ -523,7 +526,13 @@ func failedBootSentinel(status string, graceElapsed bool) error {
 }
 
 func (r *DockerHelper) buildCmd(ctx context.Context, args ...string) *exec.Cmd {
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, r.DockerCommand, args...)
+	name, cmdArgs := r.DockerCommand, args
+	if r.Elevator != nil {
+		_ = r.EnsureElevated() // defensive; normally already done in NewDockerDriver
+		name, cmdArgs = r.Elevator.wrap(r.DockerCommand, r.Environment, args)
+	}
+	//nolint:gosec // command and args come from trusted provider config
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, name, cmdArgs...)
 	if r.Environment != nil {
 		cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), r.Environment...)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/driver/docker/docker.go b/pkg/driver/docker/docker.go
index e300b7043..1e5c5b007 100644
--- a/pkg/driver/docker/docker.go
+++ b/pkg/driver/docker/docker.go
@@ -59,15 +59,29 @@ func NewDockerDriver(
 		rt = docker.DetectRuntime(dockerCommand)
 	}
 
+	elevator, err := docker.ElevatorFromName(workspaceInfo.Agent.Docker.Elevation)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid elevation config: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	log.Debugf("using docker command: command=%s, runtime=%s", dockerCommand, rt.Name())
+	dockerHelper := &docker.DockerHelper{
+		DockerCommand: dockerCommand,
+		Environment:   makeEnvironment(workspaceInfo.Agent.Docker.Env),
+		ContainerID:   workspaceInfo.Workspace.Source.Container,
+		Builder:       builder,
+		Runtime:       rt,
+		Elevator:      elevator,
+	}
+
+	// Authenticate before any command runs, keeping the prompt out of the short
+	// per-command probe timeouts that would otherwise kill it.
+	if err := dockerHelper.EnsureElevated(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	return &dockerDriver{
-		Docker: &docker.DockerHelper{
-			DockerCommand: dockerCommand,
-			Environment:   makeEnvironment(workspaceInfo.Agent.Docker.Env),
-			ContainerID:   workspaceInfo.Workspace.Source.Container,
-			Builder:       builder,
-			Runtime:       rt,
-		},
+		Docker:                     dockerHelper,
 		IDLabels:                   workspaceInfo.CLIOptions.IDLabels,
 		UpdateRemoteUserUIDDefault: workspaceInfo.CLIOptions.UpdateRemoteUserUIDDefault,
 	}, nil
diff --git a/pkg/options/resolve.go b/pkg/options/resolve.go
index 7aa58aa3c..d3d7a833d 100644
--- a/pkg/options/resolve.go
+++ b/pkg/options/resolve.go
@@ -282,6 +282,10 @@ func resolveAgentDockerConfig(
 	options map[string]string,
 ) {
 	agentConfig.Docker.Path = resolver.ResolveDefaultValue(agentConfig.Docker.Path, options)
+	agentConfig.Docker.Elevation = resolver.ResolveDefaultValue(
+		agentConfig.Docker.Elevation,
+		options,
+	)
 	agentConfig.Docker.Builder = resolver.ResolveDefaultValue(agentConfig.Docker.Builder, options)
 	agentConfig.Docker.Install = types.StrBool(
 		resolver.ResolveDefaultValue(string(agentConfig.Docker.Install), options),
diff --git a/pkg/provider/provider.go b/pkg/provider/provider.go
index 4e6783dbd..ad0896f1c 100644
--- a/pkg/provider/provider.go
+++ b/pkg/provider/provider.go
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ type ProviderDockerDriverConfig struct {
 	// Runtime identifies the container runtime explicitly (docker, podman, nerdctl).
 	// When empty, the runtime is auto-detected from the binary at Path.
 	Runtime string `json:"runtime,omitempty"`
+
+	// Elevation optionally runs docker commands through a privilege-elevation
+	// helper for rootful daemons whose socket is not accessible to the current
+	// user. One of "" / "none" (disabled), "pkexec", "sudo", or "doas".
+	Elevation string `json:"elevation,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type ProviderKubernetesDriverConfig struct {
diff --git a/providers/docker/provider.yaml b/providers/docker/provider.yaml
index b2056e0b1..fd8b70bcd 100644
--- a/providers/docker/provider.yaml
+++ b/providers/docker/provider.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ optionGroups:
   - options:
       - DOCKER_PATH
       - DOCKER_HOST
+      - DOCKER_ELEVATION
       - INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT
       - DOCKER_BUILDER
     name: "Advanced Options"
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ options:
   DOCKER_PATH:
     description: The path where to find the docker binary.
     default: docker
+  DOCKER_ELEVATION:
+    description: "Optionally run docker commands through a privilege-elevation helper for rootful daemons whose socket the current user cannot access. One of: pkexec, sudo, doas, or none. Note: pkexec targets local desktop sessions with a running polkit agent; use sudo or doas on headless/SSH hosts."
+    default: none
   DOCKER_HOST:
     global: true
     description: The docker host to use.
@@ -28,6 +32,7 @@ agent:
   local: true
   docker:
     path: ${DOCKER_PATH}
+    elevation: ${DOCKER_ELEVATION}
     builder: ${DOCKER_BUILDER}
     install: false
     env:
diff --git a/providers/podman/provider.yaml b/providers/podman/provider.yaml
index be4f1f185..0a2d45ded 100644
--- a/providers/podman/provider.yaml
+++ b/providers/podman/provider.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ optionGroups:
   - options:
       - PODMAN_PATH
       - PODMAN_HOST
+      - PODMAN_ELEVATION
       - INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT
     name: "Advanced Options"
 options:
@@ -16,6 +17,9 @@ options:
   PODMAN_PATH:
     description: The path where to find the podman binary.
     default: podman
+  PODMAN_ELEVATION:
+    description: "Optionally run podman commands through a privilege-elevation helper for a rootful podman socket the current user cannot access. One of: pkexec, sudo, doas, or none. Leave as none for rootless podman: elevating would target the separate rootful podman instead. Note: pkexec targets local desktop sessions with a running polkit agent; use sudo or doas on headless/SSH hosts."
+    default: none
   PODMAN_HOST:
     global: true
     description: The podman host to use.
@@ -24,6 +28,7 @@ agent:
   local: true
   docker:
     path: ${PODMAN_PATH}
+    elevation: ${PODMAN_ELEVATION}
     install: false
     runtime: podman
     env: