diff --git a/birdhouse/optional-components/generic_bird/default.env b/birdhouse/optional-components/generic_bird/default.env
index 7d1c5dac..c59e7fd0 100644
--- a/birdhouse/optional-components/generic_bird/default.env
+++ b/birdhouse/optional-components/generic_bird/default.env
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export GENERIC_BIRD_POSTGRES_IMAGE="postgres:10.12"
 OPTIONAL_VARS="
   $OPTIONAL_VARS
   \$GENERIC_BIRD_NAME
+  \$GENERIC_BIRD_INTERNAL_PORT
 "
 
 # add any component that this component requires to run