diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6762e28..bb43a67 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ npm install
 npm run dev
 ```
 
+`.env` is loaded via Node's native `--env-file` flag (both `dev` and `start` pass it) — no `dotenv` dependency. Docker doesn't use this at all; the container gets its config from `docker-compose.yml`'s `environment:` block instead, same as before.
+
 ## Environment variables
 
 | Variable | Default | Description |
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9501924..f83dc4a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
   "license": "MIT",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
-    "dev": "tsx watch src/index.ts",
+    "dev": "tsx watch --env-file=.env src/index.ts",
     "build": "tsc",
-    "start": "node dist/index.js"
+    "start": "node --env-file=.env dist/index.js"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "express": "^4.19.2",