diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index f9affad..de4d90c 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Backend - server-side only (NEVER commit .env)
 SECRET_KEY=change_me_in_production
 SQLITE_PATH=./data/homelab.db
+# Set this to the URL(s) you use to access Homelable in your browser.
 CORS_ORIGINS=["http://localhost:5173","http://localhost:3000"]
 
 # Auth — default credentials: admin / admin
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 613d572..16c9b2a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@ services:
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
-      # Override env_file values that differ in Docker
+      # Override env_file: SQLite path must point inside the container volume
       SQLITE_PATH: /app/data/homelab.db
-      CORS_ORIGINS: '["http://localhost:3000"]'
     volumes:
       - backend_data:/app/data
     networks:
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/LoginPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/LoginPage.tsx
index 7fbbb0e..3272798 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/LoginPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/LoginPage.tsx
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ export function LoginPage() {
     try {
       const res = await authApi.login(username, password)
       login(res.data.access_token)
-    } catch {
-      setError('Invalid username or password')
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+      const hasResponse = err && typeof err === 'object' && 'response' in err
+      setError(hasResponse ? 'Invalid username or password' : 'Could not reach the server — check your CORS_ORIGINS setting')
     } finally {
       setLoading(false)
     }
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ export function LoginPage() {
         </form>
 
         <p className="text-center text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/40 mt-4">
-          Credentials configured in <span className="font-mono">config.yml</span>
+          Credentials configured in <span className="font-mono">.env</span>
         </p>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/__tests__/LoginPage.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/__tests__/LoginPage.test.tsx
index 9b617a6..416ea74 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/__tests__/LoginPage.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/__tests__/LoginPage.test.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ describe('LoginPage', () => {
   })
 
   it('shows a generic error message — no credential enumeration', async () => {
-    vi.mocked(authApi.login).mockRejectedValue(new Error('401'))
+    vi.mocked(authApi.login).mockRejectedValue({ response: { status: 401 } })
     render(<LoginPage />)
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText('Username'), { target: { value: 'admin' } })
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText('Password'), { target: { value: 'wrongpass' } })
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@ describe('LoginPage', () => {
     expect(errors[0].textContent).toBe('Invalid username or password')
   })
 
+  it('shows a network error message when no response (e.g. CORS misconfiguration)', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(authApi.login).mockRejectedValue(new Error('Network Error'))
+    render(<LoginPage />)
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText('Username'), { target: { value: 'admin' } })
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText('Password'), { target: { value: 'admin' } })
+    fireEvent.submit(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /sign in/i }).closest('form')!)
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText(/Could not reach the server/)).toBeDefined()
+    })
+  })
+
   it('clears previous error before each new attempt', async () => {
     vi.mocked(authApi.login)
       .mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('401'))