diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 918664ab6..01e7976db 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ DISTRIBUTION=selfhosted
 POSTGRES_USER=my_user
 POSTGRES_PASSWORD=my_password
 POSTGRES_DB=panora_db
+POSTGRES_HOST=postgres
 
-JWT_SECRET=secret_jwt
\ No newline at end of file
+JWT_SECRET=secret_jwt
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b43004f2c..e8ec584d8 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ services:
   api:
     build: ./packages/api
     environment: 
-        DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}?ssl=false
+        DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@${POSTGRES_HOST}:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}?ssl=false
         DISTRIBUTION: ${DISTRIBUTION}
         JWT_SECRET: ${JWT_SECRET}
     restart: