diff --git a/api/lib/env.php b/api/lib/env.php
index e0c0db1..b23d7d6 100644
--- a/api/lib/env.php
+++ b/api/lib/env.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 /**
  * EverShelf — environment variable loader (.env).
  */
-
 function loadEnv(): array {
     static $cache = null;
     if ($cache !== null) {
@@ -22,14 +21,20 @@ function loadEnv(): array {
     }
     return $cache;
 }
-
 function env(string $key, string $default = ''): string {
     $vars = loadEnv();
-    return $vars[$key] ?? $default;
+    if (isset($vars[$key]) && $vars[$key] !== '') {
+        return $vars[$key];
+    }
+    // Fallback to system/Docker environment variables (e.g. set via Portainer)
+    $sysVal = getenv($key);
+    if ($sysVal !== false && $sysVal !== '') {
+        return $sysVal;
+    }
+    return $default;
 }
-
 /** Push a single key into the in-memory env cache (after .env write). */
 function envCacheSet(string $key, string $value): void {
     loadEnv();
     // Force reload on next call — callers should use loadEnv() return for batch updates
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file