diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index d717220d..d58f5ba9 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -38,4 +38,5 @@ RUN mkdir -p /app/results
 EXPOSE 8000
 
 # Run the application
-CMD ["uvicorn", "backend.app.main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]
+# Run the application using the PORT environment variable (required by Railway)
+CMD ["sh", "-c", "uvicorn backend.app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port ${PORT:-8000}"]