diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index a163af9..13c524b 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ MCP_HOST_PORT=18004
 # Docker Compose naming
 MCP_CONTAINER_NAME=dolibarr-mcp-server
 MCP_NETWORK_NAME=dolibarr-mcp-net
+MCP_NETWORK_EXTERNAL=false
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b92676c..bfe0945 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ overwritten by `git pull` on your server.
 | `MCP_HOST_PORT` | Optional host port to publish in Docker Compose (default `18004`). |
 | `MCP_CONTAINER_NAME` | Optional Docker Compose container name (default `dolibarr-mcp-server`). |
 | `MCP_NETWORK_NAME` | Optional Docker Compose network name (default `dolibarr-mcp-net`). |
+| `MCP_NETWORK_EXTERNAL` | Set to `true` to reuse an existing Docker network (default `false`). |
 
 Example `.env`:
 
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ DOLIBARR_API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY
 LOG_LEVEL=INFO
 MCP_CONTAINER_NAME=dolibarr-mcp-server
 MCP_NETWORK_NAME=dolibarr-mcp-net
+MCP_NETWORK_EXTERNAL=false
 ```
 
 ### Claude Desktop configuration
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a0c8a77..02ad3c2 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ networks:
   dolibarr-mcp-network:
     driver: bridge
     name: ${MCP_NETWORK_NAME:-dolibarr-mcp-net}
+    external: ${MCP_NETWORK_EXTERNAL:-false}
 
 # To run the main server:
 # docker compose up -d