diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 926b763..176b99d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Each service's `docker-compose.yml` file references the appropriate `.env` file
 services:
   backend:
     env_file:
-      - ../../env/${ENVIRONMENT}/backend.env
+      - ../../env/${ENVIRONMENT:-development}/backend.env
 ```
 
 ## Networking