diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 7a67045cd..7f80a72ce 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -22,8 +22,13 @@ POSTGRES_USER=fedireads
 POSTGRES_DB=fedireads
 POSTGRES_HOST=db
 
-CELERY_BROKER=redis://redis:6379/0
-CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND=redis://redis:6379/0
+# Redis activity stream manager
+REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST=redis_activity
+REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT=6379
+
+# Celery config with redis broker
+CELERY_BROKER=redis://redis_broker:6379/0
+CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND=redis://redis_broker:6379/0
 
 EMAIL_HOST="smtp.mailgun.org"
 EMAIL_PORT=587
diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index bcff58287..cd8448503 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ TEMPLATES = [
 
 WSGI_APPLICATION = "bookwyrm.wsgi.application"
 
+# redis
+REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST", "localhost")
+REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT", 6379)
 
 # Database
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.0/ref/settings/#databases
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 5d9cbf1be..3ee9037f9 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -31,11 +31,20 @@ services:
     depends_on:
       - db
       - celery_worker
+      - redis_activity
     networks:
       - main
     ports:
       - 8000:8000
-  redis:
+  redis_activity:
+    image: redis
+    env_file: .env
+    ports:
+      - 6378:6378
+    networks:
+      - main
+    restart: on-failure
+  redis_broker:
     image: redis
     env_file: .env
     ports:
@@ -55,7 +64,7 @@ services:
       - media_volume:/app/images
     depends_on:
       - db
-      - redis
+      - redis_broker
     restart: on-failure
   flower:
     build: .
@@ -67,7 +76,7 @@ services:
       - main
     depends_on:
       - db
-      - redis
+      - redis_broker
     restart: on-failure
     ports:
       - 8888:8888