diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 369d0c44f..7ca66d236 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-ARG commit=latest
+ARG image_tag=latest
 # looking for a better name for the node image that replaces `assets`
-FROM elifesciences/pattern-library_assets:${commit} AS assets
+FROM elifesciences/pattern-library_assets:${image_tag} AS assets
 FROM elifesciences/php_cli:22434ef5bda09326d4c9347de7d8c2f1610a0b83 AS ui-builder
 
 USER elife
diff --git a/Dockerfile.ci b/Dockerfile.ci
index 6f29e750f..e0f4d852f 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.ci
+++ b/Dockerfile.ci
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-ARG commit=latest
-FROM elifesciences/pattern-library_assets:${commit}
+ARG image_tag=latest
+FROM elifesciences/pattern-library_assets:${image_tag}
 
 USER elife
 COPY --chown=elife:elife test/ ${PROJECT_FOLDER}/test
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 92758444b..e73522b4f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ services:
         build:
             context: .
             dockerfile: Dockerfile
+            args:
+                image_tag: ${IMAGE_TAG}
         image: elifesciences/pattern-library:${IMAGE_TAG}
         ports:
             - "8889:80"
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@ services:
         build:
             context: .
             dockerfile: Dockerfile.ci
+            args:
+                image_tag: ${IMAGE_TAG}
         image: elifesciences/pattern-library_ci:${IMAGE_TAG}
         command: /bin/bash
         depends_on: