diff --git a/.env.default b/.env.default
index 201b46b..fb2ad0b 100644
--- a/.env.default
+++ b/.env.default
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ OSIT_ENV=development
 OSIT_WEB_HTTP_PORT=8080
 OSIT_WEB_HTTPS_PORT=4443
 
+# For now this extra host variable is important for the AE Flask app to connect to the AE FastAPI API.
+DOCKER_AE_APP_EXTRA_HOST=dev-api.oneskyit.com:192.168.32.20
+
 # Aether general shared config options
 # For general shared config options like API access and use, database access and use, Redis, and SMTP
 # home development, live testing, live production, onsite development, onsite testing, onsite production???
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 2376f96..fee0f30 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@ services:
         # networks:
         #   - local-net
         extra_hosts:
-             - dev-api.oneskyit.com:192.168.32.20
+             # - dev-api.oneskyit.com:192.168.32.20
+             - "${DOCKER_AE_APP_EXTRA_HOST}"
         volumes:
             - ./conf/aether_flask_gunicorn_conf.py:/conf/gunicorn_flask_conf.py
             - ./conf/aether_app_config.py:/srv/aether_app/flask_config_v2.py