diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/production/django/entrypoint.sh b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/production/django/entrypoint.sh
index 19d2ad7b..67302e2b 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/production/django/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/production/django/entrypoint.sh
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ set -o nounset
 cmd="$@"
 
 if [ -z "${POSTGRES_USER}" ]; then
-    # the official postgres image uses 'postgres' as default user if not set explictly.
-    export POSTGRES_USER=postgres
+    base_postgres_image_default_user='postgres'
+    export POSTGRES_USER="${base_postgres_image_default_user}"
 fi
 export DATABASE_URL="postgres://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}"