diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9922b4c87e9e2ff240987fd0bb379f5b3fdf3a81..91c22982f63d119d31ac34c5bc054ed47f1fa745 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Constrainify is the name of the entire application. It combines multiple compone
 
 > **Step 3** Use Docker to run the application:
 ```bash
-docker compose up
+docker compose --env-file .env up
 ```
 > **Step 4**  Go to http://localhost:8000 on any browser and enjoy Constrainify!
 
diff --git a/constrainify.service b/constrainify.service
index 6209aaed1e3e43f320646e3b7e55443ad7e5051f..839efbca82156d20cbf317ec263e054f8a276526 100644
--- a/constrainify.service
+++ b/constrainify.service
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Requires=docker.service
 Type=oneshot
 WorkingDirectory=/opt/constrainify
 ExecStartPre=git pull
-ExecStart=docker compose up -d
+ExecStart=docker compose --env-file .env up -d
 ExecStop=docker compose down
 RemainAfterExit=yes