diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f70fa48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+.env
+!/.env.docker
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 5c144a5..199a162 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -34,9 +34,14 @@ RUN --mount=type=ssh mkdir src && \
 # Copy the actual source code
 COPY src ./src
 # If you have other directories like `templates` or `static`, copy them too
-COPY .env.docker ./.env
+COPY .env.docker ./.env.docker
 COPY migrations ./migrations
 
+# Explicitly expose the env var
+# ENV DATABASE_URL=${DATABASE_URL}
+ARG ENV_FILE=.env.docker
+COPY ${ENV_FILE} ./.env.docker
+
 # << --- SSH MOUNT ADDED HERE --- >>
 # Build *only* dependencies to leverage Docker cache
 # This dummy build caches dependencies as a separate layer
@@ -60,7 +65,7 @@ COPY --from=builder /usr/src/app/target/release/icarus_auth .
 
 # Copy other necessary files like .env (if used for runtime config) or static assets
 # It's generally better to configure via environment variables in Docker though
-COPY --from=builder /usr/src/app/.env .
+COPY --from=builder /usr/src/app/.env.docker .
 COPY --from=builder /usr/src/app/migrations ./migrations
 
 # Expose the port your Axum app listens on (e.g., 3000 or 8000)
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index ed72c2b..e350c3a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ services:
       # Map host port 8000 to container port 3000 (adjust as needed)
       - "8000:3000"
     env_file:
-      - .env
+      - .env.docker
+    environment:
+      - DATABASE_URL=${DATABASE_URL} 
     depends_on:
       auth_db:
         condition: service_healthy # Wait for the DB to be healthy before starting the app
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c81cfea..8821f9d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ mod connection_settings {
 pub mod db {
 
     use sqlx::postgres::PgPoolOptions;
-    use std::env;
 
     use crate::{connection_settings, keys};
 
@@ -34,9 +33,25 @@ pub mod db {
     }
 
     async fn get_db_url() -> String {
-        dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
+        // dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
         // dotenvy::from_filename(".env").ok();
-        env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR)
+        // env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR)
+
+        /*
+        std::env::var(keys::DBURL)
+        .or_else(|_| {
+            dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
+            dotenvy::var(keys::DBURL)
+        })
+        .expect("DATABASE_URL must be set in environment or .env file")
+            */
+        if let Err(_) = dotenvy::from_filename(".env.docker") {
+            eprintln!("Note: .env.docker not found, using system env vars");
+            dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
+            std::env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR)
+        } else {
+            std::env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR)
+        }
     }
 
     pub async fn migrations(pool: &sqlx::PgPool) {