diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 5f5a69d3fdd..ea092b37535 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RUN easy-add --var os=${TARGETOS} --var arch=${TARGETARCH}${TARGETVARIANT} \
   --var version=0.1.1 --var app=maven-metadata-release --file {{.app}} \
   --from https://github.com/itzg/{{.app}}/releases/download/{{.version}}/{{.app}}_{{.version}}_{{.os}}_{{.arch}}.tar.gz
 
-ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.25.19
+ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.25.20
 ARG MC_HELPER_BASE_URL=https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper/releases/download/${MC_HELPER_VERSION}
 RUN curl -fsSL ${MC_HELPER_BASE_URL}/mc-image-helper-${MC_HELPER_VERSION}.tgz \
   | tar -C /usr/share -zxf - \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 60cf83b393b..6b6b4de4c07 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -616,6 +616,9 @@ docker run -d --name mc-ftb -e EULA=TRUE \
 To manage a CurseForge modpack automatically with upgrade support, pinned or latest version tracking, set `TYPE` to "AUTO_CURSEFORGE". The appropriate mod loader (Forge / Fabric) version will be automatically installed as declared by the modpack. This mode will also take care of cleaning up unused files installed by previous versions of the modpack, but world data is never auto-removed.
 
 > **NOTES:**
+> 
+> A CurseForge API key is **required** to use this feature. Go to their [developer console](https://console.curseforge.com/), generate an API key, and set the environment variable `CF_API_KEY`.
+> 
 > Be sure to use the appropriate [image tag for the Java version compatible with the modpack](#running-minecraft-server-on-different-java-version).
 > 
 > Most modpacks require a good amount of memory, so it best to set `MEMORY` to at least "4G" since the default is only 1 GB.
diff --git a/examples/atm8/docker-compose.yml b/examples/atm8/docker-compose.yml
index 92a0bb9dea8..a9b09678ab7 100644
--- a/examples/atm8/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/atm8/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       EULA: "true"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: # allocate from https://console.curseforge.com/
       CF_PAGE_URL: https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/all-the-mods-8
       CF_FILENAME_MATCHER: "1.0.6"
       MEMORY: 4G
diff --git a/examples/one-block-modded/docker-compose.yml b/examples/one-block-modded/docker-compose.yml
index 6abc226a7ce..397f27ac37f 100644
--- a/examples/one-block-modded/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/one-block-modded/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       EULA: "true"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: # allocate from https://console.curseforge.com/
       CF_PAGE_URL: "https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/one-block-modded/files/4136487"
       CF_SET_LEVEL_FROM: OVERRIDES
       DEBUG: "false"
diff --git a/examples/pixelmon/docker-compose.yml b/examples/pixelmon/docker-compose.yml
index 47afd3d64b7..6a990b2ff7c 100644
--- a/examples/pixelmon/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/pixelmon/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       EULA: "true"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: # allocate from https://console.curseforge.com/
       CF_SLUG: the-pixelmon-modpack
       CF_FILENAME_MATCHER: "9.1.2"
       MEMORY: 4G
diff --git a/examples/valhesia5/docker-compose.yml b/examples/valhesia5/docker-compose.yml
index 3ece303b86b..7c47ddb630f 100644
--- a/examples/valhesia5/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/valhesia5/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       EULA: "true"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: # allocate from https://console.curseforge.com/
       CF_FORCE_SYNCHRONIZE: "true"
       CF_PAGE_URL: https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/valhelsia-5/files/4429560
       MEMORY: 4G
diff --git a/examples/vault-hunters-1-18-2/docker-compose.yml b/examples/vault-hunters-1-18-2/docker-compose.yml
index a9e7b15e9db..e29103570e5 100644
--- a/examples/vault-hunters-1-18-2/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/vault-hunters-1-18-2/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       EULA: "true"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: # allocate from https://console.curseforge.com/
       CF_SLUG: vault-hunters-1-18-2
       CF_FILENAME_MATCHER: "Update-6H"
       MEMORY: 4G
diff --git a/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/docker-compose.yml b/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/docker-compose.yml
index ac9b860719f..69d7b492747 100644
--- a/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/docker-compose.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ services:
       EULA: "true"
       SETUP_ONLY: "TRUE"
       TYPE: AUTO_CURSEFORGE
+      CF_API_KEY: ${CF_API_KEY}
       CF_SLUG: the-pixelmon-modpack
       CF_FILENAME_MATCHER: "9.1.2"
       # Use the image bundled one to ensure latest is being tested
diff --git a/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/require.sh b/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/require.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..6c320cd009a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/setuponlytests/auto_curseforge/require.sh
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[[ $CF_API_KEY ]] || exit 1
\ No newline at end of file