diff --git a/app/api/create-session/route.ts b/app/api/create-session/route.ts
index b391742a..19f10975 100644
--- a/app/api/create-session/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/create-session/route.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { WORKFLOW_ID } from "@/lib/config";
+import { config as dotenvLoad } from "dotenv";
 
-export const runtime = "edge";
+if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
+  // Load .env.local data over preset env variables
+  dotenvLoad({ path: ".env.local", override: true });
+}
 
 interface CreateSessionRequestBody {
   workflow?: { id?: string | null } | null;
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 22d2591e..2c9e22f4 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
       "version": "0.1.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@openai/chatkit-react": ">=1.1.1 <2.0.0",
+        "dotenv": "^16.6.1",
         "next": "^15.5.4",
         "react": "^19.2.0",
         "react-dom": "^19.2.0"
@@ -2542,6 +2543,18 @@
         "node": ">=0.10.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.6.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.6.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-uBq4egWHTcTt33a72vpSG0z3HnPuIl6NqYcTrKEg2azoEyl2hpW0zqlxysq2pK9HlDIHyHyakeYaYnSAwd8bow==",
+      "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://dotenvx.com"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/dunder-proto": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dunder-proto/-/dunder-proto-1.0.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 89802f02..6d2c29c9 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,20 +3,21 @@
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
-    "dev": "unset OPENAI_API_KEY && next dev",
+    "dev": "next dev",
     "build": "next build",
     "start": "next start",
     "lint": "eslint"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@openai/chatkit-react": ">=1.1.1 <2.0.0",
+    "dotenv": "^16.6.1",
     "next": "^15.5.4",
     "react": "^19.2.0",
     "react-dom": "^19.2.0"
   },
   "optionalDependencies": {
-    "lightningcss-linux-x64-gnu": "1.30.1",
-    "@tailwindcss/oxide-linux-x64-gnu": "4.1.11"
+    "@tailwindcss/oxide-linux-x64-gnu": "4.1.11",
+    "lightningcss-linux-x64-gnu": "1.30.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/eslintrc": "^3",