diff --git a/mcp_server/docker/docker-compose-neo4j.yml b/mcp_server/docker/docker-compose-neo4j.yml
index ea911214..d1db7dc6 100644
--- a/mcp_server/docker/docker-compose-neo4j.yml
+++ b/mcp_server/docker/docker-compose-neo4j.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ services:
       dockerfile: docker/Dockerfile.standalone
     env_file:
       - path: ../.env
-        required: false
+        required: true
     depends_on:
       neo4j:
         condition: service_healthy