diff --git a/ghost_server-compose_template.yaml b/ghost_server-compose_template.yaml
index 9b41f5c..25716ef 100644
--- a/ghost_server-compose_template.yaml
+++ b/ghost_server-compose_template.yaml
@@ -14,8 +14,15 @@ services:
       - database__connection__user=ghost
       - database__connection__password=${DB_PASSWORD}
       - database__connection__database=ghost
-      - mail__transport=Direct
       - logging__transports=["stdout"]
+      ## mail options are per Nodemailer
+      - mail__transport=SMTP
+      - mail__options__host=${SMTP_HOST}
+      - mail__options__port=${SMTP_PORT}
+      - mail__options__secure=${SMTP_SECURE}
+      - mail__options__auth__user=${SMTP_USER}
+      - mail__options__auth__pass=${SMTP_PASSWORD}
+      - mail__options__from="'Ghost' <${SMTP_USER}>"
     volumes:
       - ${VOLUME_PATH}/content:/var/lib/ghost/content
     depends_on: