diff --git a/public/patchwork.php b/public/patchwork.php
index 919d72a..f50ea72 100644
--- a/public/patchwork.php
+++ b/public/patchwork.php
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@
 // import functions
 require_once '../src/functions.php';
 
-// load Lastfm APIKEY from .env
-require_once realpath(__DIR__ . "/../vendor/autoload.php");
-$dotenv = Dotenv\Dotenv::createImmutable(__DIR__ . "/..");
-$dotenv->load();
+if (!isset($_ENV["LASTFM_API_KEY"])) {
+    // load Lastfm APIKEY from .env
+    require_once realpath(__DIR__ . "/../vendor/autoload.php");
+    $dotenv = Dotenv\Dotenv::createImmutable(__DIR__ . "/..");
+    $dotenv->load();
+}
 
 $apiKey = $_ENV['LASTFM_API_KEY'];