diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a0c454e..9cb7a43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Claude is sandboxed — it can only search the web and read/write its own messag
 
 2. Set your environment variables in `docker-compose.yml`:
    - `DISCORD_TOKEN` — your bot token
-   - `REQUIRED_ROLE_ID` — Discord role ID that can use the bot (leave as placeholder to allow everyone)
+   - `REQUIRED_ROLE_ID` — Discord role ID that can use the bot (leave empty to allow everyone)
    - `AUTH_ADMIN_USER_IDS` — comma-separated Discord user IDs allowed to manage Claude and Codex authentication (leave empty to disable)
    - `CLAUDE_AUTH_LOGIN_TIMEOUT_MS` — optional Discord login-session timeout (default: `300000`)
    - `MESSAGES_DIR` — where message history is stored (default: `/app/messages`)
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 2f9081c..067acf3 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ services:
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
       - DISCORD_TOKEN=your_discord_bot_token_here
-      - REQUIRED_ROLE_ID=your_discord_role_id_here
+      - REQUIRED_ROLE_ID=
       - AUTH_ADMIN_USER_IDS=
       - CLAUDE_AUTH_LOGIN_TIMEOUT_MS=300000
       - MESSAGES_DIR=/app/messages