diff --git a/src/devx/molecule/start_docker.py b/src/devx/molecule/start_docker.py
index 9345ff3..435dc9b 100644
--- a/src/devx/molecule/start_docker.py
+++ b/src/devx/molecule/start_docker.py
@@ -182,6 +182,12 @@ def start_docker_daemon(timeout: int = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT) -> bool:
         click.echo(f"Docker daemon already running (free space: {free_gb:.1f} GB)")
         if free_bytes >= MIN_FREE_BYTES:
             return True
+        # If free_bytes is 0, the Docker root dir is on the host filesystem
+        # (not accessible from inside the container). The host Docker has
+        # access to the full 455G disk — always use it in that case.
+        if free_bytes == 0:
+            click.echo("Host Docker root dir not accessible from container, using host Docker")
+            return True
         click.echo(
             f"Host Docker has only {free_gb:.1f} GB free "
             f"(need ≥ {MIN_FREE_BYTES / 1024**3:.0f} GB), trying rootless sockets..."
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_start_docker.py b/tests/unit/test_start_docker.py
index e2f4a18..0296385 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_start_docker.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_start_docker.py
@@ -136,6 +136,16 @@ class TestStartDockerDaemon:
         mock_ready.assert_called_once()
         mock_diag.assert_called_once()
 
+    @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker._diagnose_socket")
+    @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker._get_docker_free_bytes", return_value=0)
+    @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker.is_docker_ready", return_value=True)
+    def test_host_socket_inaccessible_root_uses_host(
+        self, mock_ready: MagicMock, mock_free: MagicMock, mock_diag: MagicMock
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should use host Docker when root dir is inaccessible (free=0)."""
+        assert start_docker_daemon(timeout=5) is True
+        mock_ready.assert_called_once()
+
     @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker._diagnose_socket")
     @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker._get_docker_free_bytes", return_value=5 * 1024**3)
     @patch("devx.molecule.start_docker.is_docker_ready", return_value=True)