diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5b40508..481474d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -154,10 +154,12 @@ scheduler:
 
 ---
 
-### 🐳 Day 6 – Dockerization
-- [ ] Write `Dockerfile` and `docker-compose.yml`
-- [ ] Test local build and `.env` passthrough
-- [ ] Optional: containerize Ollama model if running locally
+### 🐳 ~~Day 6 – Dockerization~~
+- [x] Write `Dockerfile` and `docker-compose.yml`
+- [x] Test local build and `.env` passthrough
+- [ ] (Optional) Add docker-compose.yml for repeatable builds across machines `added but not tested` 
+- [ ] (Optional) Document how to run with volume mounts if persistence is needed
+- [ ] (Optional) containerize Ollama model if running locally `not likely to happen, part of the reason this works is thanks to a separate Ollama instance`
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/src/__pycache__/ai.cpython-310.pyc b/src/__pycache__/ai.cpython-310.pyc
index d158f29..f84abf2 100644
Binary files a/src/__pycache__/ai.cpython-310.pyc and b/src/__pycache__/ai.cpython-310.pyc differ
diff --git a/src/ai.py b/src/ai.py
index 310aa06..c8de49f 100644
--- a/src/ai.py
+++ b/src/ai.py
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from personality import load_persona
 
 load_dotenv()
-AI_URL = os.getenv("OLLAMA_API_URL")  # e.g., http://localhost:11434/api/generate
+AI_URL = os.getenv("OLLAMA_API")  # match .env and Docker ENV (e.g., http://localhost:11434/api/generate)
+
+if not AI_URL:
+    raise ValueError("❌ OLLAMA_API environment variable is not set.") 
+
 
 def get_ai_response(user_prompt):
     persona = load_persona()
diff --git a/src/scheduler/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-310.pyc b/src/scheduler/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-310.pyc
index e235c9f..b5d7dd8 100644
Binary files a/src/scheduler/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-310.pyc and b/src/scheduler/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-310.pyc differ