diff --git a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/Inspector.tsx b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/Inspector.tsx
index 492c68b6..8022c5b0 100644
--- a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/Inspector.tsx
+++ b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/Inspector.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ interface Props {
   onLiveRemoveService?: (nodeName: string, slug: string) => Promise<void>;
   /** Per-decky-eligible service slugs, fetched via useServiceRegistry. */
   availableServices?: string[];
+  /** Toggle ``forwards_l3`` (gateway) on the selected decky.  When the
+   *  topology is active/degraded the caller is responsible for the
+   *  destructive-recreate confirm dialog and the ``force: true`` submit
+   *  — this prop just relays the user's intent. */
+  onToggleGateway?: (nodeId: string, nextValue: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   onAddDecky?: (netId: string) => void;
   setSelection?: (sel: Selection) => void;
   pendingChanges?: number;
@@ -44,6 +49,7 @@ const Inspector: React.FC<Props> = ({
   selection, nets, nodes, edges, topologyStatus, onClose,
   onDeleteNet, onDeleteNode, onDeleteEdge, onRemoveService,
   onLiveAddService, onLiveRemoveService, availableServices = [],
+  onToggleGateway,
   onAddDecky, setSelection,
   pendingChanges = 0,
   className = '',
@@ -257,6 +263,50 @@ const Inspector: React.FC<Props> = ({
                 <div className="dim inspector-empty-line">NO EDGES</div>
               )}
             </div>
+            {onToggleGateway && !isObserved && (
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                className={`maze-btn small ${isGateway ? 'alert' : ''}`}
+                disabled={busy === '__gateway__'}
+                title={
+                  isGateway
+                    ? 'Demote this decky from gateway (forwards_l3=false)'
+                    : 'Promote this decky to gateway (forwards_l3=true)'
+                }
+                onClick={async () => {
+                  const next = !isGateway;
+                  // forwards_l3 flip on a deployed topology recreates
+                  // the base container — destructive.  Confirm before
+                  // hitting the API; the caller (MazeNET.tsx) submits
+                  // with force: true on active topologies.
+                  const live = topologyStatus === 'active' || topologyStatus === 'degraded';
+                  if (live) {
+                    const ok = window.confirm(
+                      `${next ? 'Promote' : 'Demote'} ${node.name} ${next ? 'to' : 'from'} gateway?\n\n` +
+                      'This recreates the base container to apply the new port-publishing config. ' +
+                      'In-container state is lost; active sessions to it drop.',
+                    );
+                    if (!ok) return;
+                  }
+                  setOpError(null);
+                  setBusy('__gateway__');
+                  try {
+                    await onToggleGateway(node.id, next);
+                  } catch (err) {
+                    const msg = (err as { response?: { data?: { detail?: string } } })?.response?.data?.detail
+                      ?? 'Gateway toggle failed.';
+                    setOpError(msg);
+                  } finally {
+                    setBusy(null);
+                  }
+                }}
+              >
+                <Shield size={12} />
+                {busy === '__gateway__'
+                  ? (isGateway ? 'DEMOTING…' : 'PROMOTING…')
+                  : (isGateway ? 'DEMOTE GATEWAY' : 'PROMOTE TO GATEWAY')}
+              </button>
+            )}
             {onDeleteNode && (
               <button
                 type="button"
diff --git a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/MazeNET.tsx b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/MazeNET.tsx
index 6fe86783..d67dfa60 100644
--- a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/MazeNET.tsx
+++ b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/MazeNET.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_SERVICES } from './data';
 import type { Archetype, ServiceDef } from './data';
 import type { Net, MazeNode, Edge, DeckyNode } from './types';
 import { useMazeApi } from './useMazeApi';
+import type { DeckyRow } from './useMazeApi';
 import { useTopologyEditor } from './useTopologyEditor';
 import { useMazeInteraction, type PaletteDrag } from './useMazeInteraction';
 import { useLayoutPersistor } from './useMazeLayoutStore';
@@ -132,6 +133,39 @@ const MazeNET: React.FC = () => {
       ? { ...x, services: data.services } : x));
   }, [topologyId]);
 
+  /* forwards_l3 toggle.  Active topologies require the destructive
+     base-recreate path on the backend, gated by force: true; the
+     Inspector is responsible for confirming with the user before this
+     fires. */
+  const toggleGateway = useCallback(async (nodeId: string, nextValue: boolean) => {
+    const node = nodes.find((n) => n.id === nodeId);
+    if (!node || node.kind !== 'decky') return;
+    const live = topoStatus === 'active' || topoStatus === 'degraded';
+    const r = await editor.updateDecky(
+      topologyId, nodeId, node.name,
+      { decky_config: { ...(node.decky_config ?? {}), forwards_l3: nextValue } } as Partial<DeckyRow>,
+      live ? { force: true } : undefined,
+    );
+    // Optimistic local update — pending path returns 'applied'
+    // synchronously; active path returns 'enqueued' and the
+    // mutation.applied SSE will refetch shortly.  Either way, paint
+    // the change immediately so the toggle feels responsive.
+    setNodes((prev) => prev.map((n) =>
+      n.id === nodeId && n.kind === 'decky'
+        ? {
+          ...n,
+          decky_config: { ...(n.decky_config ?? {}), forwards_l3: nextValue },
+        }
+        : n,
+    ));
+    if (r.kind === 'enqueued') {
+      pushToast({
+        tone: 'violet',
+        text: `Gateway ${nextValue ? 'promotion' : 'demotion'} queued — base recreate in flight.`,
+      });
+    }
+  }, [editor, nodes, pushToast, topoStatus, topologyId]);
+
   /* ── Palette drop — create LANs / deckies / services via REST ─── */
   const onPaletteDrop = useCallback(
     async (drag: PaletteDrag, world: { x: number; y: number }, overNetId: string | null, overNodeId: string | null) => {
@@ -867,6 +901,7 @@ const MazeNET: React.FC = () => {
           availableServices={serviceRegistry.perDecky}
           onLiveAddService={liveAddService}
           onLiveRemoveService={liveRemoveService}
+          onToggleGateway={toggleGateway}
           onAddDecky={(netId) => {
             const net = nets.find((n) => n.id === netId);
             if (!net) return;
diff --git a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/useTopologyEditor.ts b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/useTopologyEditor.ts
index 9b5a991f..d9d15782 100644
--- a/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/useTopologyEditor.ts
+++ b/decnet_web/src/components/MazeNET/useTopologyEditor.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ export interface UseTopologyEditor {
     uuid: string,
     deckyName: string,
     patch: Partial<DeckyRow>,
+    /** Extra top-level flags for the queued mutation payload — currently
+     *  only ``force`` (opts in to destructive recreates like the
+     *  forwards_l3 flip on a live topology).  Ignored on the pending
+     *  CRUD path since pending edits never need force. */
+    extras?: { force?: boolean },
   ): Promise<PrimitiveResult<DeckyRow>>;
   deleteDecky(
     topologyId: string,
@@ -169,7 +174,7 @@ export function useTopologyEditor(
       const res = await api.enqueueMutation(topologyId, 'add_decky', payload, topoVersion);
       return { kind: 'enqueued', mutationId: res.mutation_id };
     },
-    async updateDecky(topologyId, uuid, deckyName, patch) {
+    async updateDecky(topologyId, uuid, deckyName, patch, extras) {
       if (!live) {
         const data = await api.updateDecky(topologyId, uuid, patch);
         return { kind: 'applied', data };
@@ -181,6 +186,7 @@ export function useTopologyEditor(
         else patchFields[k] = v;
       }
       if (Object.keys(patchFields).length > 0) payload.patch = patchFields;
+      if (extras?.force) payload.force = true;
       const res = await api.enqueueMutation(topologyId, 'update_decky', payload, topoVersion);
       return { kind: 'enqueued', mutationId: res.mutation_id };
     },