diff --git a/knoe/config.py b/knoe/config.py
index 99c363c..a6115eb 100644
--- a/knoe/config.py
+++ b/knoe/config.py
@@ -1398,8 +1398,12 @@ def _deployment_mode_hint(inputs: dict | None = None) -> str:
 
     if normalized_env in {"prod", "production", "k8s"}:
         return "gke"
-    if normalized_env in {"dev", "k3d", "k3s"}:
+    if normalized_env in {"dev", "k3d"}:
         return normalized_env
+    if normalized_env == "service":
+        return "k3s"
+    if normalized_env == "k3s":
+        return "k3s"
 
     deployment_mode = str(
         data.get("build.deploy_env")
@@ -1431,8 +1435,10 @@ def get_required_dependency_ids(inputs: dict | None = None) -> set[str]:
         ):
             required.add("gke-gcloud-auth-plugin")
         return required
-    if mode in {"dev", "k3d", "k3s"}:
+    if mode in {"dev", "k3d"}:
         return base_required | {"k3d"}
+    if mode == "k3s":
+        return base_required
     return base_required