diff --git a/.env b/.env
index aec2b9248..88b0f5375 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ PUBLIC_PORT=80
 # Backend API
 # API_HOST is used by the frontend; in Docker it should be the backend container name
 # (or "localhost" if front and backend are running together in one container
+API_HOST=backend
 PUBLIC_API_PORT=4444
 
 # Telegram apparently needs its own port