diff --git a/Dockerfile.perspective b/Dockerfile.perspective
index b012699..8be9b5b 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.perspective
+++ b/Dockerfile.perspective
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ RUN poetry config virtualenvs.create false \
 # Copy the entire project
 COPY . /app
 
+# Set the API key as an environment variable
+ARG PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY
+ENV PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY=$PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY
+
 # Expose the port the app runs on
 EXPOSE 8000
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 38b4afc..3becc16 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ services:
     build:
       context: .
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.perspective
+      args:
+        - PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY=${PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY}
     image: perspective-ranker:latest
     environment:
       - PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY=${PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY}
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ services:
     build:
       context: .
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.perspective
+      args:
+        - PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY=${PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY}
     environment:
       - PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY=${PERSPECTIVE_API_KEY}
     volumes: