diff --git a/AACT_downloader/docker-compose.yaml b/AACT_downloader/docker-compose.yaml
index fdefa02..f0dfa38 100644
--- a/AACT_downloader/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/AACT_downloader/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ volumes:
 
 networks:
   pharmaceutical_research: #because it helps to have a way to link specifically to this. 
+    external: true
 
 services:
   aact_db:
@@ -27,3 +28,4 @@ services:
       # this is the folder containing entrypoint info.
       - ./docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/
 
+