diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index 76dfb78..c6dd64a 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ from flask_migrate import Migrate
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
+# Load .env early so config values (DB URL, secrets, etc.) are available during imports.
+load_dotenv(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", ".env")))
+
 from app.config import DevelopmentConfig, ProductionConfig
 from app.extensions import db, login_manager, scheduler
 from app.services.scheduler import SchedulerService
@@ -15,8 +18,6 @@ def create_app() -> Flask:
     Application factory creating the Flask app, loading config, registering blueprints,
     initializing extensions, and booting the scheduler.
     """
-    # Ensure environment variables from .env are loaded when starting via gunicorn/etc.
-    load_dotenv(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", ".env")))
     app = Flask(__name__)
 
     config_name = os.getenv("FLASK_ENV", "development").lower()