diff --git a/infra/local/dev.compose.yml b/infra/local/dev.compose.yml
index 8e0f841..f281c23 100644
--- a/infra/local/dev.compose.yml
+++ b/infra/local/dev.compose.yml
@@ -103,7 +103,10 @@ services:
     restart: unless-stopped
     profiles: [dbtools]
     environment:
-      DATABASE_URL: postgres://${POSTGRES_USER:-portal}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB:-portal_dev}?sslmode=disable
+      # `PGWEB_DATABASE_URL` (formerly `DATABASE_URL`) — pgweb 0.16
+      # deprecated the old name, ignores it, and starts up empty,
+      # crashing with "Invalid URL".
+      PGWEB_DATABASE_URL: postgres://${POSTGRES_USER:-portal}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB:-portal_dev}?sslmode=disable
     ports:
       - '${PGWEB_PORT:-8081}:8081'
     depends_on: