diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 373e708..4a27477 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -11,9 +11,16 @@ services:
             - .env
         networks:
             - local-private-net
+        # allow the container to access the host machine
+        # this is useful for development purposes, e.g. to access the database/AC server running on the host
+        extra_hosts:
+        - "host.docker.internal:host-gateway"
         ports:
             - 48733:48733
 
 networks:
     local-private-net:
         driver: bridge
+    ac-network:
+        name: ${DOCKER_AC_NETWORK_NAME:-azerothcore-wotlk_ac-network} # default network name if you use the docker setup of ac
+        external: ${DOCKER_AC_NETWORK_EXTERNAL:-false}