diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 93581a28..d44fe92d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ LOCAL_NODE_BIN := $(LOCAL_NODE_DIR)/bin
 LOCAL_NODE := $(LOCAL_NODE_BIN)/node
 LOCAL_NPM := $(LOCAL_NODE_BIN)/npm
 
-.PHONY: proto build test test-nested-modules tidy lint generate build-sdk docker-build docker-build-e2e-client docker-build-etcd-tools docker-clean ensure-minio start-minio stop-containers release-broker-ports test-produce-consume test-produce-consume-debug test-consumer-group test-ops-api test-mcp test-multi-segment-durability test-full test-operator test-acl demo demo-platform demo-platform-bootstrap iceberg-demo kafsql-demo platform-demo help clean-kind-all ensure-local-node check vet race fmt fmt-check test-fuzz code-ql code-ql-summary code-ql-gate commit-check
+.PHONY: proto build test test-nested-modules tidy lint generate build-sdk docker-build docker-build-e2e-client docker-build-etcd-tools docker-clean ensure-minio start-minio stop-containers release-broker-ports test-produce-consume test-produce-consume-debug test-consumer-group test-ops-api test-mcp test-multi-segment-durability test-full test-operator test-acl demo demo-platform demo-platform-bootstrap iceberg-demo kafsql-demo platform-demo help clean-kind-all ensure-local-node check vet race fmt fmt-check test-fuzz code-ql code-ql-summary code-ql-gate commit-check test-chart-proxy-nodeport
 
 REGISTRY ?= ghcr.io/kafscale
 STAMP_DIR ?= .build
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ fmt-check: ## Check formatting (fails if unformatted)
 test-fuzz: ## Run Go fuzz test(s)
 	bash scripts/test_fuzz.sh
 
+test-chart-proxy-nodeport: ## Run the proxy Service nodePort chart template test (helm only, no cluster)
+	bash test/chart/proxy-nodeport_test.sh
+
 code-ql: ensure-local-node ## Run local CodeQL and emit SARIF under .tmp/codeql/
 	bash scripts/codeql_local.sh
 
diff --git a/deploy/helm/kafscale/README.md b/deploy/helm/kafscale/README.md
index 4aa8cd22..e2706e44 100644
--- a/deploy/helm/kafscale/README.md
+++ b/deploy/helm/kafscale/README.md
@@ -111,6 +111,31 @@ See [values.yaml](values.yaml) for the full list of configurable parameters.
 | `lfsDemos.*` | Demo applications |
 | `mcp.*` | MCP server settings |
 
+### Proxy Service
+
+The proxy is the single Kafka entrypoint, so its Service is the one clients connect to.
+
+| Key | Description | Default |
+|-----|-------------|---------|
+| `proxy.service.type` | Service type (`ClusterIP`, `NodePort`, `LoadBalancer`) | `LoadBalancer` |
+| `proxy.service.port` | Service port for the Kafka listener | `9092` |
+| `proxy.service.nodePort` | Pin the node port for the Kafka listener. Only rendered when `type == NodePort`; leave empty to let Kubernetes auto-assign | `""` |
+
+When `type` is `NodePort` and `nodePort` is empty, Kubernetes assigns a random
+node port, so a fixed host-to-node-port mapping (for example a kind
+`hostPort: 9092 -> containerPort: 30092` mapping) never reaches the proxy. Set
+`proxy.service.nodePort` to a value in the valid NodePort range `30000-32767`
+to pin it. A value outside that range renders fine but is rejected by the API
+server at apply time.
+
+```yaml
+proxy:
+  enabled: true
+  service:
+    type: NodePort
+    nodePort: 30092
+```
+
 ## LFS Proxy
 
 The LFS Proxy implements the claim-check pattern for large Kafka messages:
diff --git a/deploy/helm/kafscale/templates/proxy-service.yaml b/deploy/helm/kafscale/templates/proxy-service.yaml
index e884889f..dc4d0181 100644
--- a/deploy/helm/kafscale/templates/proxy-service.yaml
+++ b/deploy/helm/kafscale/templates/proxy-service.yaml
@@ -38,4 +38,7 @@ spec:
       port: {{ .Values.proxy.service.port }}
       targetPort: kafka
       protocol: TCP
+      {{- if and (eq .Values.proxy.service.type "NodePort") .Values.proxy.service.nodePort }}
+      nodePort: {{ .Values.proxy.service.nodePort }}
+      {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/deploy/helm/kafscale/values.yaml b/deploy/helm/kafscale/values.yaml
index a5ae4f9e..2b28eb61 100644
--- a/deploy/helm/kafscale/values.yaml
+++ b/deploy/helm/kafscale/values.yaml
@@ -151,6 +151,14 @@ proxy:
     port: 9092
     annotations: {}
     loadBalancerSourceRanges: []
+    # When type is NodePort, pin the node port (otherwise Kubernetes assigns a
+    # random one and a fixed host:port mapping cannot reach the proxy). Leave
+    # empty to let Kubernetes choose. Only rendered when type == NodePort.
+    # Valid range is 30000-32767; a value outside it renders but is rejected
+    # at apply time. Scoped to the proxy because it is the single Kafka
+    # entrypoint; console/mcp expose service.type but are left as-is and
+    # tracked separately.
+    nodePort: ""
 
 # NOTE: The standalone lfs-proxy has been removed.
 # LFS is now a feature-flag on the unified proxy: set proxy.lfs.enabled=true.
diff --git a/test/chart/proxy-nodeport_test.sh b/test/chart/proxy-nodeport_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..07a8a7bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/chart/proxy-nodeport_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Copyright 2026 KafScale team.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+# Chart template test for the proxy Service nodePort behaviour.
+#
+# Asserts that deploy/helm/kafscale/templates/proxy-service.yaml renders
+# spec.ports[0].nodePort only when proxy.service.type == NodePort AND
+# proxy.service.nodePort is set. Self-contained: needs only helm and awk,
+# no helm plugins. Run directly or via `make test-chart-proxy-nodeport`.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+CHART_DIR="${ROOT_DIR}/deploy/helm/kafscale"
+
+command -v helm >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "helm is required"; exit 1; }
+
+fail=0
+
+# Render the proxy Service object only. The chart guards the proxy template
+# behind proxy.enabled, so every case enables it.
+render_proxy_service() {
+  helm template kafscale "${CHART_DIR}" \
+    --show-only templates/proxy-service.yaml \
+    --set proxy.enabled=true \
+    "$@"
+}
+
+# nodePort value rendered on the kafka port, or empty string if absent.
+proxy_nodeport() {
+  render_proxy_service "$@" | awk '/^[[:space:]]*nodePort:/ { print $2; exit }'
+}
+
+assert_eq() {
+  local desc="$1" want="$2" got="$3"
+  if [ "${got}" = "${want}" ]; then
+    echo "PASS: ${desc} (nodePort=\"${got}\")"
+  else
+    echo "FAIL: ${desc} (want nodePort=\"${want}\", got \"${got}\")"
+    fail=1
+  fi
+}
+
+echo "==> chart proxy nodePort template test"
+
+# Case 1: NodePort + explicit nodePort -> renders nodePort: 30092.
+got="$(proxy_nodeport --set proxy.service.type=NodePort --set proxy.service.nodePort=30092)"
+assert_eq "NodePort + nodePort=30092 renders the value" "30092" "${got}"
+
+# Case 2: NodePort + empty nodePort -> line omitted (Kubernetes auto-assigns).
+got="$(proxy_nodeport --set proxy.service.type=NodePort --set 'proxy.service.nodePort=')"
+assert_eq "NodePort + empty nodePort omits the line" "" "${got}"
+
+# Case 3: LoadBalancer + value -> line suppressed (only NodePort honours it).
+got="$(proxy_nodeport --set proxy.service.type=LoadBalancer --set proxy.service.nodePort=30092)"
+assert_eq "LoadBalancer + nodePort=30092 suppresses the line" "" "${got}"
+
+if [ "${fail}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "==> chart proxy nodePort template test FAILED"
+  exit 1
+fi
+echo "==> chart proxy nodePort template test passed"