diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 600d478..1f26d20 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -28,3 +28,5 @@ NTFY_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 DOCKER_COMPOSE_DIR=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
 BOOKLOGR_AUTH_SECRET_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
+BOOKLOGR_DEFAULT_USER=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx # needs to be an email
+BOOKLOGR_DEFAULT_PASSWORD=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index 4ec3c4e..2f5f51b 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ services:
   booklogr-api:
     container_name: "booklogr-api"
     image: mozzo/booklogr:v1.11.1
+    env_file:
+      - .env
     environment:
       DATABASE_URL: "sqlite:///books.db"
       AUTH_ALLOW_REGISTRATION: False