diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index edb70d7..f89ad37 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -17,5 +17,6 @@ COPY --from=builder /usr/bin/course-sense-go /usr/bin/course-sense-go
 
 RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
 USER appuser
+ENV app_env=prod
 
 ENTRYPOINT [ "/usr/bin/course-sense-go" ]
diff --git a/cmd/coursesense/main.go b/cmd/coursesense/main.go
index 3c55396..f8927e4 100644
--- a/cmd/coursesense/main.go
+++ b/cmd/coursesense/main.go
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	log.Logger = log.Output(zerolog.ConsoleWriter{Out: os.Stdout})
+	// use pretty logging for local development
+	// app_env is set in the dockerfile
+	if os.Getenv("app_env") != "prod" {
+		log.Logger = log.Output(zerolog.ConsoleWriter{Out: os.Stdout})
+	}
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()