diff --git a/backend/run.sh b/backend/run.sh
index 57c12b6..04bb840 100755
--- a/backend/run.sh
+++ b/backend/run.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+
+# Auto-load project env file when present.
+if [[ -f "$ROOT_DIR/.env" ]]; then
+  set -a
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
+  source "$ROOT_DIR/.env"
+  set +a
+fi
+
 exec "$ROOT_DIR/.venv/bin/python" "$ROOT_DIR/backend/app.py"