diff --git a/mealie/core/config.py b/mealie/core/config.py
index 185aa47b7..23cacdd67 100644
--- a/mealie/core/config.py
+++ b/mealie/core/config.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import secrets
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Union
 
+import dotenv
 from pydantic import BaseSettings, Field, validator
 
 APP_VERSION = "v0.4.1"
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@ CWD = Path(__file__).parent
 BASE_DIR = CWD.parent.parent
 
 ENV = BASE_DIR.joinpath(".env")
-PRODUCTION = os.getenv("ENV", "False").lower() in ["true", "1"]
+
+dotenv.load_dotenv(ENV)
+PRODUCTION = os.getenv("PRODUCTION", "True").lower() in ["true", "1"]
 
 
 def determine_data_dir(production: bool) -> Path:
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ app_dirs = AppDirectories(CWD, DATA_DIR)
 
 class AppSettings(BaseSettings):
     global DATA_DIR
-    PRODUCTION: bool = Field(False, env="ENV")
+    PRODUCTION: bool = Field(True, env="PRODUCTION")
     IS_DEMO: bool = False
     API_PORT: int = 9000
     API_DOCS: bool = True