diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index cfa212d..cdb581b 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -19,4 +19,6 @@ DBPASS=your-secure-database-password-here
 # Conversion Tool: Switch from kepubify to ebook-convert
 # BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_TOOL=/usr/bin/ebook-convert
 # Conversion Cache TTL: Override default 24h
-# BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_TTL=48h
\ No newline at end of file
+# BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_TTL=48h
+# System timezone (fallback for server-side time operations, defaults to UTC)
+# TZ=America/New_York
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 8608f7f..f140295 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ services:
       BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_DIR: ${BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_DIR:-/app/cache/kepub}
       BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_TOOL: ${BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_TOOL:-/usr/bin/kepubify}
       BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_TTL: ${BOOKHOARD_CONVERSION_CACHE_TTL:-24h}
+
+      # System timezone (fallback for server-side time operations)
+      TZ: ${TZ:-UTC}
     ports:
       - "8765:8765"
     depends_on: