diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 7ad6f51..6b2d43e 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 # this only works on macos for now, cross compilation toolchain from https://github.com/messense/homebrew-macos-cross-toolchains
 
+set -e;
+
 cargo update; 
  
-CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_LINKER=x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc cargo build --release --target x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu;
+DOMAIN=evieippolito.com CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_LINKER=x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc cargo build --release --target x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu;
 
 scp target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/evie kline@augustkline.com:/home/kline/; 
 
diff --git a/src/server/mod.rs b/src/server/mod.rs
index 5d15506..c6565e4 100644
--- a/src/server/mod.rs
+++ b/src/server/mod.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl BlogStateInner {
     async fn new() -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
         let username = env!("INIT_USER_NAME").to_string();
         let password = env!("INIT_USER_PASSWORD").to_string();
-        let domain = env!("DOMAIN").to_string();
+        let domain = option_env!("DOMAIN").unwrap_or("localhost").to_string();
         let db = BlogDb::new(&username, password.clone()).await?;
         Self::add_initial_assets(&db).await?;
         Self::add_initial_pages(&db).await?;
diff --git a/stage.sh b/stage.sh
index c2dbf69..61f52a2 100755
--- a/stage.sh
+++ b/stage.sh
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 # this only works on macos for now, cross compilation toolchain from https://github.com/messense/homebrew-macos-cross-toolchains
 
+set -e
+
 cargo update; 
  
-CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_LINKER=x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc cargo build --release --target x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu;
+DOMAIN=evieippolito.com CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_LINKER=x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc cargo build --release --target x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu;
 
 scp target/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/release/evie kline@augustkline.com:/home/kline/;