diff --git a/docker-compose-dev.yml b/docker-compose-dev.yml
index d6071a2..b6b4afa 100755
--- a/docker-compose-dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-dev.yml
@@ -13,5 +13,7 @@ services:
 
     environment:
       - URL=http://localhost:8080
+      # - API_KEY=your-secret-key      # if set, all /api requests must provide it
+      # - BLOCK_PRIVATE_IPS=true       # block LAN/loopback/metadata IPs (recommended for public hosting)
     ports:
       - 8080:80
diff --git a/docker/start.sh b/docker/start.sh
index dd2fc98..49cdf9f 100755
--- a/docker/start.sh
+++ b/docker/start.sh
@@ -14,11 +14,18 @@ chmod 777 /srv/logs
 
 echo ' [+] Building config'
 _buildConfig() {
+    local block_private api_key
+    case "${BLOCK_PRIVATE_IPS:-false}" in
+        true|1|yes) block_private=true ;;
+        *)          block_private=false ;;
+    esac
+    api_key="${API_KEY:-}"
+    api_key="${api_key//\'/}"
     echo "<?php"
     echo "date_default_timezone_set('Europe/Vienna');"
     echo "define('URL','${URL:-http://localhost:8080}');"
-    echo "define('API_KEY','${API_KEY:-}');"
-    echo "define('BLOCK_PRIVATE_IPS',${BLOCK_PRIVATE_IPS:-false});"
+    echo "define('API_KEY','${api_key}');"
+    echo "define('BLOCK_PRIVATE_IPS',${block_private});"
     echo ""
 }