diff --git a/frontend/Dockerfile.app b/frontend/Dockerfile.app
index 317f456..b1a1042 100644
--- a/frontend/Dockerfile.app
+++ b/frontend/Dockerfile.app
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED 1
 # use python venv to copy to the app image later
 ENV PATH="/venv/bin:$PATH"
 
-RUN apt-get update && \
+RUN apt-get update --no-install-recommends && \
     apt-get install -y gcc
 
 # set up venv
diff --git a/frontend/Dockerfile.nginx b/frontend/Dockerfile.nginx
index 25105a4..510c161 100644
--- a/frontend/Dockerfile.nginx
+++ b/frontend/Dockerfile.nginx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED 1
 # use python venv to copy to the app image later
 ENV PATH="/venv/bin:$PATH"
 
-RUN apt-get update && \
+RUN apt-get update --no-install-recommends && \
     apt-get install -y gcc
 RUN python -m venv /venv