diff --git a/docs/deployment/application-deployment.md b/docs/deployment/application-deployment.md
index 04165af1d..76d0a44ed 100644
--- a/docs/deployment/application-deployment.md
+++ b/docs/deployment/application-deployment.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ dokku postgres:create rails-database
 
 ### Linking backing services to applications
 
-Once the service creation is complete, set the `POSTGRES_URL` environment variable by linking the service.
+Once the service creation is complete, set the `DATABASE_URL` environment variable by linking the service.
 
 ```shell
 # on the Dokku host