diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index a0378f96a..26e2235d4 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ services:
     env_file:
       - path: .env.example
         required: false
+      - path: .env
+        required: false
     volumes:
       - ./data:/app/data
     depends_on:
diff --git a/docs/self-hosting/docker.mdx b/docs/self-hosting/docker.mdx
index 715be0578..b128beae8 100644
--- a/docs/self-hosting/docker.mdx
+++ b/docs/self-hosting/docker.mdx
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ Create a new folder (for example `reactive-resume/`) with:
   <Step title="Create your .env">
     Start by creating a `.env` file next to your `compose.yml`.
 
+    The Compose example below reads `.env` directly. If you use the repository's `compose.yml` instead, copy its `.env.example` into the same folder. That file supplies defaults before your `.env` overrides are applied.
+
 ```bash .env
 # --- Server ---
 TZ="Etc/UTC"