diff --git a/services/orchestrator/README.md b/services/orchestrator/README.md
index a33987e..c652f17 100644
--- a/services/orchestrator/README.md
+++ b/services/orchestrator/README.md
@@ -117,6 +117,18 @@ docker compose ps
 curl http://127.0.0.1:8093/ready
 ```
 
+When Portal or the Shadow smoke process runs outside Compose, export the same
+service token into the child process environment. Plain `source` does not export
+new shell variables by itself:
+
+```bash
+set -a
+source deploy/orchestrator/.env
+set +a
+export MEMIND_ORCHESTRATOR_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8093
+pnpm dev
+```
+
 The Compose project:
 
 - publishes only the Orchestrator port on loopback;