diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index b1dd2ea..a602361 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "nanoclaw",
-  "version": "1.2.36",
+  "version": "1.2.37",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "nanoclaw",
-      "version": "1.2.36",
+      "version": "1.2.37",
       "dependencies": {
         "@onecli-sh/sdk": "^0.2.0",
         "better-sqlite3": "11.10.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 081d2b4..7216a9d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "nanoclaw",
-  "version": "1.2.36",
+  "version": "1.2.37",
   "description": "Personal Claude assistant. Lightweight, secure, customizable.",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
diff --git a/src/env.ts b/src/env.ts
index 988b59e..82cd5c3 100644
--- a/src/env.ts
+++ b/src/env.ts
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ export function readEnvFile(keys: string[]): Record<string, string> {
     if (!wanted.has(key)) continue;
     let value = trimmed.slice(eqIdx + 1).trim();
     if (
-      (value.startsWith('"') && value.endsWith('"')) ||
-      (value.startsWith("'") && value.endsWith("'"))
+      value.length >= 2 &&
+      ((value.startsWith('"') && value.endsWith('"')) ||
+        (value.startsWith("'") && value.endsWith("'")))
     ) {
       value = value.slice(1, -1);
     }