diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 9dd7b97..4ac1144 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 DOCLING_SERVE_ENABLE_UI=true
+DOCLING_SERVE_API_KEY=change-me
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 46686bd..87155aa 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ services:
       - "5001"
     environment:
       - DOCLING_SERVE_ENABLE_UI=${DOCLING_SERVE_ENABLE_UI:-true}
+      - DOCLING_SERVE_API_KEY=${DOCLING_SERVE_API_KEY}
     healthcheck:
       test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:5001/health"]
       interval: 30s