diff --git a/web/client/Dockerfile b/web/client/Dockerfile
index cb8bda2..13ba498 100644
--- a/web/client/Dockerfile
+++ b/web/client/Dockerfile
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ RUN npm install
 
 COPY . .
 
+# Accept API key at build time so Vite can inline it
+ARG VITE_API_KEY=""
+ENV VITE_API_KEY=${VITE_API_KEY}
+
 RUN npm run build
 
 # Stage 2: Serve with nginx