diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yml b/docker-compose.dev.yml
index 094d3ac..9a53110 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -63,3 +63,4 @@ services:
       - "5173:5173"
     environment:
       NODE_ENV: development
+      API_URL: http://server:3000
diff --git a/packages/web/src/lib/api.ts b/packages/web/src/lib/api.ts
index dcb9e28..f94c351 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,13 @@ export async function apiFetch<T>(path: string, options: RequestInit = {}): Prom
     }
   }
 
-  const json: ApiResponse<T> = await res.json();
+  const text = await res.text();
+  let json: ApiResponse<T>;
+  try {
+    json = JSON.parse(text);
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(`Server error (${res.status})`);
+  }
   if (!json.success) {
     throw new Error(json.error?.message || 'Request failed');
   }
diff --git a/packages/web/vite.config.ts b/packages/web/vite.config.ts
index 91d1cdb..f38fbc2 100644
--- a/packages/web/vite.config.ts
+++ b/packages/web/vite.config.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   server: {
     port: 5173,
     proxy: {
-      '/api': 'http://localhost:3000',
+      '/api': process.env.API_URL || 'http://localhost:3000',
     },
   },
 });