diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index f329326..923599a 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ SMTP_PASSWORD=password
 SMTP_USE_SSL=1
 # to disable SSL comment out line rather than changing to 0
 
+# Whyyyy does this need to be set separately
+NOTIFICATIONS_EMAIL_ADDRESS=noreply@example.com
+
 REPLY_HOSTNAME=loomio.example.com
 
 # helper bot is the account which welcomes people to their groups.
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index 14289bf..001a5f6 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ x-environment: &default-env
   SMTP_USERNAME: ${SMTP_USERNAME}
   SMTP_PASSWORD: ${SMTP_PASSWORD}
   SMTP_USE_SSL: ${SMTP_USE_SSL}
+  NOTIFICATIONS_EMAIL_ADDRESS: ${NOTIFICATIONS_EMAIL_ADDRESS}
   REPLY_HOSTNAME: ${REPLY_HOSTNAME}
   HELPER_BOT_EMAIL: ${HELPER_BOT_EMAIL}
   RAILS_ENV: ${RAILS_ENV}