diff --git a/.env b/.env.example
similarity index 100%
rename from .env
rename to .env.example
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0c2418
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# See https://help.github.com/articles/ignoring-files/ for more about ignoring files.
+
+# .env file
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79e0320..cc5d748 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Make sure you have `docker` & `docker-compose` installed on the server / system.
     cd calendso-docker
     ```
 
-3. Update `.env` if needed
+3. Rename `.env.example` to `.env` and update `.env` if needed.
 
 4. Build and start calendso
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index c7e6f74..5e6c4cf 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ services:
       - 3000:3000
       - 5555:5555
     env_file: .env
+    environment:
+      - DATABASE_URL=postgresql://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@${DATABASE_HOST}/${POSTGRES_DB}
     depends_on:
       - db
 volumes: