diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index 3db24a8..89a2259 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -5,16 +5,14 @@ services:
     container_name: fastnotes-api
     ports:
       - "8000:8000"
-    # No volume – immutable image
-    # env_file: .env   # set secrets in Coolify UI
 
   ui:
     build:
-      context: ./frontend # defaults to Dockerfile (production)
+      context: ./frontend
+      args:
+        VITE_API_URL: https://notesapi.fitzythe.dev # Pass as build arg
     container_name: fastnotes-ui
-    environment:
-      - VITE_API_URL=http://api:8000
     ports:
-      - "80:80" # Nginx serves on 80
+      - "80:80"
     depends_on:
       - api
diff --git a/frontend/Dockerfile b/frontend/Dockerfile
index 65b6491..8c030b7 100644
--- a/frontend/Dockerfile
+++ b/frontend/Dockerfile
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 # ---------- Builder ----------
 FROM node:20-alpine AS builder
-
 WORKDIR /app
+
+# Accept build argument
+ARG VITE_API_URL
+ENV VITE_API_URL=$VITE_API_URL
+
 COPY package*.json ./
-RUN npm ci                     # install deps (no dev‑dependencies unless you need them)
+RUN npm ci
 COPY . .
-RUN npm run build              # Vite creates ./dist
+RUN npm run build
 
 # ---------- Runtime ----------
 FROM nginx:stable-alpine AS runtime
-
-# Copy the compiled assets from the builder stage
 COPY --from=builder /app/dist /usr/share/nginx/html
-
 EXPOSE 80
 CMD ["nginx", "-g", "daemon off;"]