diff --git a/app/portainer/components/forms/stack-redeploy-git-form/stack-redeploy-git-form.html b/app/portainer/components/forms/stack-redeploy-git-form/stack-redeploy-git-form.html
index fbcfdc8ee..41f019dff 100644
--- a/app/portainer/components/forms/stack-redeploy-git-form/stack-redeploy-git-form.html
+++ b/app/portainer/components/forms/stack-redeploy-git-form/stack-redeploy-git-form.html
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
 
   <environment-variables-panel
     ng-model="$ctrl.formValues.Env"
-    explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file"
+    explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file. To reference the .env file in your compose file, use ‘stack.env’."
     on-change="($ctrl.onChangeEnvVar)"
     show-help-message="true"
   ></environment-variables-panel>
diff --git a/app/portainer/views/stacks/create/createstack.html b/app/portainer/views/stacks/create/createstack.html
index 901b65bfc..a216b99de 100644
--- a/app/portainer/views/stacks/create/createstack.html
+++ b/app/portainer/views/stacks/create/createstack.html
@@ -152,7 +152,11 @@
           </div>
 
           <!-- environment-variables -->
-          <environment-variables-panel ng-model="formValues.Env" explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file" on-change="(handleEnvVarChange)">
+          <environment-variables-panel
+            ng-model="formValues.Env"
+            explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file. To reference the .env file in your compose file, use ‘stack.env’"
+            on-change="(handleEnvVarChange)"
+          >
           </environment-variables-panel>
           <!-- !environment-variables -->
           <por-access-control-form form-data="formValues.AccessControlData"></por-access-control-form>
diff --git a/app/portainer/views/stacks/edit/stack.html b/app/portainer/views/stacks/edit/stack.html
index 5440a15fb..679d72160 100644
--- a/app/portainer/views/stacks/edit/stack.html
+++ b/app/portainer/views/stacks/edit/stack.html
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
               <div ng-if="stack">
                 <environment-variables-panel
                   ng-model="formValues.Env"
-                  explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file"
+                  explanation="These values will be used as substitutions in the stack file. To reference the .env file in your compose file, use ‘stack.env’."
                   on-change="(handleEnvVarChange)"
                   show-help-message="true"
                 ></environment-variables-panel>