diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 3796753..7229676 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ services:
       - '5432:5432'
     environment:
       POSTGRES_USER: shumiland
-      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: shumiland # dev only — override via .env in production
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:-shumiland}
       POSTGRES_DB: shumiland
     volumes:
       - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data