diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-dev.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-dev.yml
index 72346c0..2d959f2 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-dev.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-dev.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ jobs:
             echo "🔍 Checking .env file"
             if [ ! -f .env ]; then
               echo "❌ .env file not found at $DEPLOY_DIR/.env"
-              echo "Please create it first. See DEPLOYMENT-SETUP.md"
+              echo "Please create it first with required variables:"
+              echo "  - DB_*, IMAGES_DIRECTORY, PRODUCTION_PRIVATE_SERVER"
               exit 1
             fi
 
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index f379cc9..aee6688 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ jobs:
             cp docker-compose.yml \$DEPLOY_DIR/
             cd \$DEPLOY_DIR
             
-            # .env file should already exist on server with all secrets
+            # .env file should already exist on server with all required variables
+            # Required: DB_*, IMAGES_DIRECTORY, PRODUCTION_PRIVATE_SERVER
             # If it doesn't exist, deployment will fail (this is intentional for security)
             
             docker compose down || true
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index c6cc4d5..58298e7 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ services:
       - DB_DATABASE=${DB_DATABASE}
       - DB_USERNAME=${DB_USERNAME}
       - DB_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD}
+      - IMAGES_DIRECTORY=${IMAGES_DIRECTORY}
+      - PRODUCTION_PRIVATE_SERVER=${PRODUCTION_PRIVATE_SERVER}
     volumes:
       - ./storage:/var/www/html/storage
       - ./public/uploads:/var/www/html/public/uploads