diff --git a/cmd/deploy.go b/cmd/deploy.go
index a5a6131a..a324a5cc 100644
--- a/cmd/deploy.go
+++ b/cmd/deploy.go
@@ -76,14 +76,6 @@ func runDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return errors.New("running without a controlling terminal requires --envrc to be set")
 	}
 
-	if envrc != "" && portForwarding {
-		return errors.New("cannot use --envrc with --port-forwarding. The --envrc flag is for non-interactive mode with remote cluster access")
-	}
-
-	if envrc != "" && exposure == "none" {
-		return errors.New("cannot use --envrc with --exposure=none. The --envrc flag requires a remotely accessible endpoint (e.g., --exposure=loadbalancer)")
-	}
-
 	portForwardEnabledFinal := portForwarding || exposure == "none"
 
 	if env.RunningInRoxieContainer {
diff --git a/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go b/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
index 2bc1ca73..6365a870 100644
--- a/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
+++ b/internal/deployer/deploy_via_operator.go
@@ -607,11 +607,20 @@ func (d *Deployer) configureCentralEndpoint(ctx context.Context, exposure string
 			}
 		}
 
-		endpoint, err := d.portForward.Start(d.centralNamespace, serviceName, 443, 8443)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to start port-forward: %w", err)
+		if d.envrcFile != "" {
+			endpoint, pid, err := d.portForward.StartDetached(d.centralNamespace, serviceName, 443, 8443)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to start detached port-forward: %w", err)
+			}
+			d.centralEndpoint = endpoint
+			d.portForwardPID = pid
+		} else {
+			endpoint, err := d.portForward.Start(d.centralNamespace, serviceName, 443, 8443)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to start port-forward: %w", err)
+			}
+			d.centralEndpoint = endpoint
 		}
-		d.centralEndpoint = endpoint
 	} else if exposure == "loadbalancer" {
 		endpoint, err := d.waitForLoadBalancer(ctx, d.centralNamespace, "central-loadbalancer", 300)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/deployer/deployer.go b/internal/deployer/deployer.go
index 69b77c19..a30372a0 100644
--- a/internal/deployer/deployer.go
+++ b/internal/deployer/deployer.go
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ type Deployer struct {
 	securedClusterOverrides   map[string]interface{}
 	featureFlagOverrides      map[string]interface{}
 	envrcFile                 string
+	portForwardPID            int
 	useOLM                    bool
 	useKonflux                bool
 	shouldDeployOperator      bool
@@ -434,6 +437,12 @@ func New(log *logger.Logger) (*Deployer, error) {
 		d.roxCACertFile = caCert
 	}
 
+	if pidStr := os.Getenv("ROXIE_PORT_FORWARD_PID"); pidStr != "" {
+		if pid, err := strconv.Atoi(pidStr); err == nil {
+			d.portForwardPID = pid
+		}
+	}
+
 	d.kubeContext = env.GetCurrentContext()
 
 	clusterResourceKinds, err := d.getClusterResourceKinds()
@@ -480,6 +489,22 @@ func (d *Deployer) Cleanup() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (d *Deployer) stopDetachedPortForward() {
+	if d.portForwardPID == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	proc, err := os.FindProcess(d.portForwardPID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := proc.Signal(syscall.SIGKILL); err != nil {
+		d.logger.Dimf("Detached port-forward (pid %d) already gone", d.portForwardPID)
+		return
+	}
+	d.logger.Dimf("Stopped detached port-forward (pid %d)", d.portForwardPID)
+	d.portForwardPID = 0
+}
+
 // Deploy deploys the specified components to the cluster.
 func (d *Deployer) Deploy(ctx context.Context, components component.Component, resources, exposure string) error {
 	adjustedResources, adjustedExposure, adjustedPortForward := d.clusterDefaults.ApplyConvenienceDefaults(
@@ -559,7 +584,6 @@ func (d *Deployer) deployCentral(ctx context.Context, resources, exposure string
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// envrc may be used from different processes, so use actual endpoint not port-forward
 	if d.envrcFile != "" {
 		d.logger.Dimf("Writing environment variables to %s", d.envrcFile)
 		if err := d.writeEnvrcFile(ctx, exposure, portForwardWanted); err != nil {
@@ -636,6 +660,7 @@ func (d *Deployer) teardownCentral(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	d.portForward.Stop()
+	d.stopDetachedPortForward()
 
 	// Add pause-reconcile annotation to not have the operator interfere during resource deletion.
 	if d.doesResourceExist(ctx, "central", "stackrox-central-services", d.centralNamespace) {
@@ -998,6 +1023,9 @@ func (d *Deployer) writeEnvrcFile(ctx context.Context, exposure string, portForw
 	fmt.Fprintf(&content, "export ROX_USERNAME=%q\n", AdminUsername)
 	fmt.Fprintf(&content, "export ROX_ADMIN_PASSWORD=%q\n", d.centralPassword)
 	fmt.Fprintf(&content, "export ROX_CA_CERT_FILE=%q\n", d.roxCACertFile)
+	if d.portForwardPID != 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&content, "export ROXIE_PORT_FORWARD_PID=%d\n", d.portForwardPID)
+	}
 
 	if err := os.WriteFile(d.envrcFile, []byte(content.String()), 0600); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write envrc file: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/portforward/portforward.go b/internal/portforward/portforward.go
index 4dcbd0cf..b62f69cb 100644
--- a/internal/portforward/portforward.go
+++ b/internal/portforward/portforward.go
@@ -120,6 +120,51 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(namespace, serviceName string, remotePort, preferredLoca
 	return endpoint, nil
 }
 
+// StartDetached starts port-forward as a detached process that survives the
+// parent process exiting. Returns the endpoint and the PID of the subprocess.
+// The caller is responsible for killing the process when done.
+func (m *Manager) StartDetached(namespace, serviceName string, remotePort, preferredLocalPort int) (string, int, error) {
+	localPort, err := m.findFreeLocalPort(preferredLocalPort)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to find free port: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	cmd := exec.Command(
+		m.kubectl,
+		"-n", namespace,
+		"port-forward",
+		fmt.Sprintf("svc/%s", serviceName),
+		fmt.Sprintf("%d:%d", localPort, remotePort),
+		"--address", "127.0.0.1",
+	)
+
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
+		Setsid: true,
+	}
+
+	cmd.Stdout = nil
+	cmd.Stderr = nil
+
+	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to start port-forward: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	pid := cmd.Process.Pid
+
+	// Release the process so it won't be waited on by this process.
+	cmd.Process.Release()
+
+	if !m.waitTCPReady("127.0.0.1", localPort, 20.0) {
+		syscall.Kill(pid, syscall.SIGTERM)
+		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("port-forward did not become ready")
+	}
+
+	endpoint := fmt.Sprintf("127.0.0.1:%d", localPort)
+	m.logger.Successf("✓ Detached port-forward active at https://%s (pid %d)", endpoint, pid)
+
+	return endpoint, pid, nil
+}
+
 // Stop stops the active port-forward if running
 func (m *Manager) Stop() {
 	if m.proc == nil || m.proc.Process == nil {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/basic_test.go b/tests/e2e/basic_test.go
index ac91591f..9141c7d5 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/basic_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/basic_test.go
@@ -4,9 +4,16 @@
 package e2e
 
 import (
+	"net"
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 // TestDeployBothSimple tests deploying both components together (simplest scenario)
@@ -22,7 +29,7 @@ func TestDeployBothSimple(t *testing.T) {
 	envrcFile.Close()
 
 	t.Log("=== Deploying both components together ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "both", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "both", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout*2, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify namespaces exist and have managed-by labels
@@ -46,3 +53,56 @@ func TestDeployBothSimple(t *testing.T) {
 	verifyCentralNotInstalled(t, "acs-central")
 	verifySecuredClusterNotInstalled(t, "acs-sensor")
 }
+
+// TestDetachedPortForwarding tests the detached port-forwarding mode for central.
+func TestDetachedPortForwarding(t *testing.T) {
+	dumpClusterStateOnFailure(t)
+
+	envrcFile, err := os.CreateTemp(t.TempDir(), ".envrc.roxie-test-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create temp envrc: %v", err)
+	}
+	envrcPath := envrcFile.Name()
+	envrcFile.Close()
+
+	t.Log("=== Deploying central without exposure and with port-forwarding and envrc ===")
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "central", "--exposure=none", "--port-forwarding", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
+	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
+
+	env, err := loadEnvrcFile(envrcPath)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to load envrc file")
+	pidStr, ok := env["ROXIE_PORT_FORWARD_PID"]
+	require.True(t, ok, "ROXIE_PORT_FORWARD_PID not set in envrc")
+	pid, err := strconv.Atoi(pidStr)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "ROXIE_PORT_FORWARD_PID is not a valid integer: %s", pidStr)
+	t.Logf("Port-forward PID: %d", pid)
+
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Kill(pid, 0), "Port-forward process (PID %d) does not exist", pid)
+
+	endpoint, ok := env["API_ENDPOINT"]
+	require.True(t, ok, "API_ENDPOINT not set in envrc")
+	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(endpoint, "127.0.0.1:"),
+		"Expected localhost endpoint, got: %s", endpoint)
+
+	caCertFile, ok := env["ROX_CA_CERT_FILE"]
+	require.True(t, ok, "ROX_CA_CERT_FILE not set in envrc")
+
+	testCentralAPI(t, endpoint, caCertFile)
+
+	t.Log("=== Cleaning up ===")
+	teardownArgs := []string{roxieBinary, "teardown", "central"}
+	runCommand(t, teardownTimeout, env, teardownArgs...)
+
+	// Verify port-forward cleanup by checking the port is free. We can't use
+	// kill(pid, 0) because CI containers often lack a proper init to reap
+	// zombies, causing the check to pass for dead processes. Binding to the
+	// port works because even zombies release their file descriptors.
+	assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", endpoint)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		ln.Close()
+		return true
+	}, 10*time.Second, 200*time.Millisecond, "Port-forward port %s should be free after teardown", endpoint)
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/e2e_test.go b/tests/e2e/e2e_test.go
index 425ec7e9..cb42af42 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/e2e_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/e2e_test.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func TestDeployBothComponentsTogetherInSingleNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	envrcFile.Close()
 
 	t.Log("=== Deploying both components in single namespace ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "both", "--single-namespace", "--early-readiness", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "both", "--single-namespace", "--early-readiness", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout*2, nil, args...)
 
 	verifyCentralInstalled(t, "stackrox")
diff --git a/tests/e2e/helpers.go b/tests/e2e/helpers.go
index 14c20fce..73b7faf2 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/helpers.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/helpers.go
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ package e2e
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"crypto/tls"
+	"crypto/x509"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
@@ -26,8 +29,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 var (
-	commonDeployArgs              = []string{"--port-forwarding", "--exposure=none", "--resources=small"}
-	commonDeployArgsNoPortForward = []string{"--exposure=loadbalancer", "--resources=small"}
+	commonDeployArgs = []string{"--resources=small"}
 
 	roxieBinary = "roxie"
 )
@@ -348,6 +350,30 @@ func dumpLogsForFailingPods(namespace string) {
 	}
 }
 
+func testCentralAPI(t *testing.T, endpoint, caCertFile string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	caCert, err := os.ReadFile(caCertFile)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to read CA cert file: %s", caCertFile)
+	certPool := x509.NewCertPool()
+	require.True(t, certPool.AppendCertsFromPEM(caCert), "Failed to parse CA certificate")
+
+	client := &http.Client{
+		Timeout: 10 * time.Second,
+		Transport: &http.Transport{
+			TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{
+				RootCAs:    certPool,
+				ServerName: "central.stackrox.svc",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	resp, err := client.Get(fmt.Sprintf("https://%s/v1/ping", endpoint))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to reach Central via %s", endpoint)
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode, "Central API returned unexpected status")
+	t.Logf("Central at %s responded with status: %d", endpoint, resp.StatusCode)
+}
+
 func verifyAnnotation(t *testing.T, resourceType, resourceName, namespace, annotationKey, expectedValue string) {
 	t.Helper()
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/olm_switch_test.go b/tests/e2e/olm_switch_test.go
index fe9512b0..0c6fa480 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/olm_switch_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/olm_switch_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestOLMToNonOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 1: Deploy central with OLM operator
 	t.Log("=== Step 1: Deploy central with OLM operator ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator is in OLM mode
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func TestOLMToNonOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 2: Deploy central again without OLM (should switch modes)
 	t.Log("=== Step 2: Redeploy central without OLM (triggering mode switch) ===")
-	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator switched to non-OLM mode
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func TestNonOLMToOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 1: Deploy central without OLM (non-OLM operator)
 	t.Log("=== Step 1: Deploy central with non-OLM operator ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator is in non-OLM mode
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func TestNonOLMToOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 2: Deploy central again with OLM (should switch modes)
 	t.Log("=== Step 2: Redeploy central with OLM (triggering mode switch) ===")
-	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator switched to OLM mode
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func TestOLMOperatorVersionUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 1: Deploy central with OLM operator
 	t.Log("=== Step 1: Deploy central with OLM operator ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator is in OLM mode
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ func TestOLMOperatorVersionUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 2: Redeploy with same version (should skip if version matches)
 	t.Log("=== Step 2: Redeploy with same version (should detect correct version) ===")
-	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator is still in OLM mode and deployment exists
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func TestSecuredClusterWithOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 1: Deploy central with OLM
 	t.Log("=== Step 1: Deploy central with OLM ===")
-	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args := append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "central", "--olm", "--envrc", envrcPath}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, nil, args...)
 
 	verifyOperatorMode(t, true)
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func TestSecuredClusterWithOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 2: Deploy secured-cluster (should reuse OLM operator)
 	t.Log("=== Step 2: Deploy secured-cluster (should reuse OLM operator) ===")
-	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "secured-cluster", "--olm"}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "secured-cluster", "--olm"}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, envrcEnv, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator is still in OLM mode
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func TestSecuredClusterWithOLMSwitch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Step 3: Switch to non-OLM by redeploying secured-cluster without --olm
 	t.Log("=== Step 3: Redeploy secured-cluster without OLM (triggering mode switch) ===")
-	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "secured-cluster"}, commonDeployArgsNoPortForward...)
+	args = append([]string{roxieBinary, "deploy", "--early-readiness", "secured-cluster"}, commonDeployArgs...)
 	runCommand(t, deployTimeout, envrcEnv, args...)
 
 	// Verify operator switched to non-OLM mode