diff --git a/api/docs/guides/quickstart.md b/api/docs/guides/quickstart.md
index d277d4cbc..3bbfb6773 100644
--- a/api/docs/guides/quickstart.md
+++ b/api/docs/guides/quickstart.md
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
 Ensure that you have installed `mkcert` (and the corresponding NSS tools). You can run `mkcert -install` to verify your installation.
 
+> _**Note:**_ Our Docker compose configuration requires specific environment configuration that is automatically handled by `just`. While you can run compose directly, it's advised to use the `just dc` alias for `docker-compose` as this ensures the environment will be properly configured.
+
 ## Steps
 
 1. Ensure that the [Docker daemon](https://docs.docker.com/config/daemon/) is running.
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index a12ac55e3..d03e36cc4 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -35,17 +35,21 @@ DOCKER_FILE := "-f " + (
 export DOCKER_USER_ID := `id -u`
 export DOCKER_GROUP_ID := `id -g`
 
+# Run `docker-compose` configured with the correct files and environment
+dc *args:
+    docker-compose {{ DOCKER_FILE }} {{ args }}
+
 # Build all (or specified) services
 build *args:
-    docker-compose {{ DOCKER_FILE }} build {{ args }}
+    just dc build {{ args }}
 
 # Bring all Docker services up
 up flags="":
-    docker-compose {{ DOCKER_FILE }} up -d {{ flags }}
+    just dc up -d {{ flags }}
 
 # Take all Docker services down
 down flags="":
-    docker-compose {{ DOCKER_FILE }} down {{ flags }}
+    just dc down {{ flags }}
 
 # Recreate all volumes and containers from scratch
 recreate:
@@ -55,7 +59,7 @@ recreate:
 
 # Show logs of all, or named, Docker services
 logs services="" args=(if IS_CI != "" { "" } else { "-f" }):
-    docker-compose {{ DOCKER_FILE }} logs {{ args }} {{ services }}
+    just dc logs {{ args }} {{ services }}
 
 # Attach to the specificed `service`. Enables interacting with the TTY of the running service.
 attach service: