diff --git a/docker-resources/manage.sh b/docker-resources/manage.sh
index 137857b30..847cd0788 100755
--- a/docker-resources/manage.sh
+++ b/docker-resources/manage.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-docker compose run --rm akkoma ./bin/pleroma_ctl $@
+# this should all be done without needing a running instance
+docker compose run --rm -e "PLEROMA_CTL_RPC_DISABLED=true" akkoma ./bin/pleroma_ctl $@