diff --git a/app/Actions/Service/StartService.php b/app/Actions/Service/StartService.php
index dfef6a566..50011c74f 100644
--- a/app/Actions/Service/StartService.php
+++ b/app/Actions/Service/StartService.php
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ public function handle(Service $service, bool $pullLatestImages = false, bool $s
         $service->isConfigurationChanged(save: true);
         $commands[] = 'cd '.$service->workdir();
         $commands[] = "echo 'Saved configuration files to {$service->workdir()}.'";
+        // Ensure .env file exists before docker compose tries to load it
+        // This is defensive programming - saveComposeConfigs() already creates it,
+        // but we guarantee it here in case of any edge cases or manual deployments
+        $commands[] = 'touch .env';
         if ($pullLatestImages) {
             $commands[] = "echo 'Pulling images.'";
             $commands[] = 'docker compose pull';
diff --git a/app/Jobs/ApplicationDeploymentJob.php b/app/Jobs/ApplicationDeploymentJob.php
index ea8cdff95..0fd007e9a 100644
--- a/app/Jobs/ApplicationDeploymentJob.php
+++ b/app/Jobs/ApplicationDeploymentJob.php
@@ -3029,6 +3029,12 @@ private function stop_running_container(bool $force = false)
 
     private function start_by_compose_file()
     {
+        // Ensure .env file exists before docker compose tries to load it (defensive programming)
+        $this->execute_remote_command(
+            ["touch {$this->workdir}/.env", 'hidden' => true],
+            ["touch {$this->configuration_dir}/.env", 'hidden' => true],
+        );
+
         if ($this->application->build_pack === 'dockerimage') {
             $this->application_deployment_queue->addLogEntry('Pulling latest images from the registry.');
             $this->execute_remote_command(
diff --git a/bootstrap/helpers/parsers.php b/bootstrap/helpers/parsers.php
index a210aa1cc..9b17e6810 100644
--- a/bootstrap/helpers/parsers.php
+++ b/bootstrap/helpers/parsers.php
@@ -1300,6 +1300,9 @@ function applicationParser(Application $resource, int $pull_request_id = 0, ?int
         if ($depends_on->count() > 0) {
             $payload['depends_on'] = $depends_on;
         }
+        // Auto-inject .env file so Coolify environment variables are available inside containers
+        // This makes Applications behave consistently with manual .env file usage
+        $payload['env_file'] = ['.env'];
         if ($isPullRequest) {
             $serviceName = addPreviewDeploymentSuffix($serviceName, $pullRequestId);
         }
@@ -2279,6 +2282,9 @@ function serviceParser(Service $resource): Collection
         if ($depends_on->count() > 0) {
             $payload['depends_on'] = $depends_on;
         }
+        // Auto-inject .env file so Coolify environment variables are available inside containers
+        // This makes Services behave consistently with Applications
+        $payload['env_file'] = ['.env'];
 
         $parsedServices->put($serviceName, $payload);
     }