diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 509331ec0..a7a37c81e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ MEDIA_ROOT=images/
 POSTGRES_PASSWORD=fedireads
 POSTGRES_USER=fedireads
 POSTGRES_DB=fedireads
+POSTGRES_HOST=db
 
 RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_USER=rabbit
 RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_PASS=changeme
diff --git a/fedireads/settings.py b/fedireads/settings.py
index c4ce0b2c8..3c951496d 100644
--- a/fedireads/settings.py
+++ b/fedireads/settings.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ FEDIREADS_DBS = {
         'NAME': env('POSTGRES_DB', 'fedireads'),
         'USER': env('POSTGRES_USER', 'fedireads'),
         'PASSWORD': env('POSTGRES_PASSWORD', 'fedireads'),
-        'HOST': 'db',
+        'HOST': env('POSTGRES_HOST', ''),
         'PORT': 5432
     },
     'sqlite': {