diff --git a/.air.toml b/.air.toml
index 1687879..1b52eec 100644
--- a/.air.toml
+++ b/.air.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ tmp_dir = "tmp"
   bin = "./tmp/main"
   cmd = "go build -o ./tmp/main ."
   delay = 1000
-  exclude_dir = ["docs", "frontend", "prns", "pronounslib", "tmp", "target"]
+  exclude_dir = ["docs", "frontend", "prns", "pronounslib", "tmp", "target", "node_modules"]
   exclude_file = []
   exclude_regex = ["_test.go"]
   exclude_unchanged = false
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6f1a279..1beebd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ Requirements:
 1. Create a PostgreSQL user and database (the user should own the database).
    For example: `create user pronouns with password 'password'; create database pronouns with owner pronouns;`
 2. Copy `.env.example` in the repository root to a new file named `.env` and fill out the required options.
-3. Copy `./frontend/.env.example` to `./frontend/env` and fill out the required options (`PUBLIC_BASE_URL`),
-   instead of using `localhost` use `127.0.0.1`.
+3. Copy `frontend/.env.example` to `frontend/env` and fill out the required options.
 4. Run `go run -v . database migrate` to initialize the database, then optionally `go run -v . database seed` to insert a test user.
 5. Run `pnpm dev`. Alternatively, if you don't want the backend to live reload, run `go run -v . web`,
    then change to the `frontend/` directory and run `pnpm dev`.
diff --git a/frontend/.env.example b/frontend/.env.example
index 1463658..d5c1046 100644
--- a/frontend/.env.example
+++ b/frontend/.env.example
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Base of frontend URLs
+# Base of frontend URLs (required)
 PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:5173
 
 # Base of media URLs, required for avatars, pride flags, and data exports