diff --git a/tools/local-setup/docker-compose.yml b/tools/local-setup/docker-compose.yml
index 53158324dc..ab748822af 100644
--- a/tools/local-setup/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/tools/local-setup/docker-compose.yml
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ services:
       context: ../../
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.noncached
       args:
+        BUILD_TAGS: "${BUILD_TAGS:-rocksdb}"
         BUILD_LD_FLAGS: "${BUILD_LD_FLAGS:--X=github.com/iotaledger/wasp/core/app.Version=v0.0.0-testing}"
     ulimits:
       nofile: