diff --git a/templates/compose/bluesky-pds.yaml b/templates/compose/bluesky-pds.yaml
index 4d622074d..74e3bb1e4 100644
--- a/templates/compose/bluesky-pds.yaml
+++ b/templates/compose/bluesky-pds.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ services:
       - 'PDS_BLOB_UPLOAD_LIMIT=${PDS_BLOB_UPLOAD_LIMIT:-104857600}'
       - 'PDS_DID_PLC_URL=${PDS_DID_PLC_URL:-https://plc.directory}'
       - 'PDS_EMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=${PDS_EMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS}'
-      - 'PDS_EMAIL_SMTP_URL=${PDS_EMAIL_SMTP_URL}'
+      - 'PDS_EMAIL_SMTP_URL=${PDS_EMAIL_SMTP_URL:-smtps://username:password@smtp.example.com/}'
       - 'PDS_BSKY_APP_VIEW_URL=${PDS_BSKY_APP_VIEW_URL:-https://api.bsky.app}'
       - 'PDS_BSKY_APP_VIEW_DID=${PDS_BSKY_APP_VIEW_DID:-did:web:api.bsky.app}'
       - 'PDS_REPORT_SERVICE_URL=${PDS_REPORT_SERVICE_URL:-https://mod.bsky.app/xrpc/com.atproto.moderation.createReport}'