diff --git a/backend/src/auth/auth.module.ts b/backend/src/auth/auth.module.ts
index 62c7da7..f2f29d7 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/auth.module.ts
+++ b/backend/src/auth/auth.module.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { JwtStrategy } from './jwt.strategy';
       imports: [ConfigModule],
       inject: [ConfigService],
       useFactory: (config: ConfigService) => ({
-        secret: config.get<string>('JWT_SECRET'),
+        secret: config.get<string>('JWT_SECRET') || 'dev-secret',
         signOptions: { expiresIn: '7d' },
       }),
     }),
diff --git a/backend/src/auth/jwt.strategy.ts b/backend/src/auth/jwt.strategy.ts
index ce5c0c4..c1d6515 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/jwt.strategy.ts
+++ b/backend/src/auth/jwt.strategy.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy) {
     super({
       jwtFromRequest: ExtractJwt.fromAuthHeaderAsBearerToken(),
       ignoreExpiration: false,
-      secretOrKey: config.get<string>('JWT_SECRET')!,
+      secretOrKey: config.get<string>('JWT_SECRET') || 'dev-secret',
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 5f7414e..1fc9275 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ services:
     build: ./backend
     ports:
       - '3000:3000'
-    env_file: .env
 
   admin:
     build: ./admin