diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 2ece013..56be06c 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ DATABASE_URL=sqlite:knowfoolery.db?mode=rwc
 PORT=3000
 JWT_SECRET=change-me-to-a-random-secret
 RUST_LOG=knowfoolery_server=debug,tower_http=debug
+VITE_BACKEND_URL=http://backend:3000
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index f0edc7c..1943434 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ services:
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.frontend
     ports:
       - "5173:5173"
+    environment:
+      VITE_BACKEND_URL: "http://backend:3000"
     depends_on:
       - backend
 
diff --git a/frontend/vite.config.ts b/frontend/vite.config.ts
index 005f59e..28f5ee5 100644
--- a/frontend/vite.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/vite.config.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 import { defineConfig } from "vite";
 import solidPlugin from "vite-plugin-solid";
 
+const backendTarget = process.env.VITE_BACKEND_URL ?? "http://localhost:3000";
+
 export default defineConfig({
   plugins: [solidPlugin()],
   server: {
     port: 5173,
     proxy: {
       "/api": {
-        target: "http://localhost:3000",
+        target: backendTarget,
         changeOrigin: true,
       },
       "/health": {
-        target: "http://localhost:3000",
+        target: backendTarget,
         changeOrigin: true,
       },
     },