diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index cc0f2bd..388c23e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ COPY src src
 COPY Cargo.toml Cargo.toml
 COPY Cargo.lock Cargo.lock
 
+# To improve performance and prevent the entire registry from being downloaded
+# see https://blog.rust-lang.org/inside-rust/2023/01/30/cargo-sparse-protocol.html
+ENV CARGO_REGISTRIES_CRATES_IO_PROTOCOL=sparse
+
 RUN cargo build ${CARGO_FLAGS}
 
 FROM debian:bullseye-slim as agent