diff --git a/backend/nginx.conf b/backend/nginx.conf
index a58fce5..fafff04 100644
--- a/backend/nginx.conf
+++ b/backend/nginx.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 worker_processes 1;
+
 events {
     worker_connections 1024;
 }
@@ -12,29 +13,29 @@ http {
 
     client_max_body_size 100M;
 
+    # The backend is running in the same container, so reference localhost
     upstream django {
-        server server:8000;  # Use the internal Docker networking
+        server 127.0.0.1:8000;  # Use localhost to point to Gunicorn running internally
     }
 
     server {
-        listen 80;  # NGINX always listens on port 80 inside the container
+        listen 80;  # NGINX listens on port 80 inside the container
         server_name localhost;
 
         location / {
-            proxy_pass http://server:8000;  # Explicitly forward to Django service
+            proxy_pass http://django;  # Forward to the upstream block
             proxy_set_header Host $host;
             proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
             proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
             proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
         }
 
-
         location /static/ {
             alias /code/staticfiles/;  # Serve static files directly
         }
 
         location /media/ {
-            alias /code/media/;   # Serve media files directly
+            alias /code/media/;  # Serve media files directly
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index efaf95d..eca6a8c 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ services:
     container_name: adventurelog-frontend
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
-      - PUBLIC_SERVER_URL=http://server:8000 # MOST DOCKER USERS WILL NOT NEED TO CHANGE THIS EVER EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE OUTWARD PORT
+      - PUBLIC_SERVER_URL=http://server:8000 # Should be the service name of the backend with port 8000, even if you change the port in the backend service
       - ORIGIN=http://localhost:8015
       - BODY_SIZE_LIMIT=Infinity
     ports: