diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 0f58998..74c7d9d 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ services:
       - "80:80"
     depends_on:
       - backend
+    environment:
+      - BACKEND_HOST=backend
+      - BACKEND_PORT=3001
     networks:
       - app-network
 
diff --git a/nginx-template.conf b/nginx-template.conf
index de89a74..57f3a5c 100644
--- a/nginx-template.conf
+++ b/nginx-template.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ server {
 
     # Proxy API requests to the backend server
     location /api/ {
-        proxy_pass http://${BACKEND_HOST:-backend}:${BACKEND_PORT:-3001}/;
+        proxy_pass http://$BACKEND_HOST:$BACKEND_PORT/;
         proxy_http_version 1.1;
         proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
         proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';