diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index a82b33cbd3f813bac608b7f61de95d07117fb62e..54cf73f5b6303f00e8e7f709c99bec7f37998c79 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ function restoreEnvFile {
   if [[ -n ${COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME} ]]; then
     echo "COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME=${COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME}" >>.env
   fi
+  if [[ -n ${COMPOSER_DOWNGRADE} ]]; then
+    echo "COMPOSER_DOWNGRADE=${COMPOSER_DOWNGRADE}" >>.env
+  fi
   if [[ -f ".env" ]]; then
     # shellcheck disable=SC2046
     # shellcheck disable=SC2094