diff --git a/backend/agent.py b/backend/agent.py
index 4230e53..6e04b5a 100644
--- a/backend/agent.py
+++ b/backend/agent.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import logging
 import re
 import time
 from typing import Optional
+import os
 
 from memory import ConversationState, MemoryStore
 from intent import classify_intent, maybe_correct_intent, is_domain_relevant
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, AIMessage, SystemMessage
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("autostream.agent")
 
-_OPENROUTER_API_KEY  = "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"
+_OPENROUTER_API_KEY = os.getenv("OPENROUTER_API_KEY")
 _OPENROUTER_BASE_URL = "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
 _OPENROUTER_MODEL    = "openrouter/auto"
 _MAX_RETRIES = 3
@@ -297,4 +298,4 @@ class AutoStreamAgent:
         }
 
     def reset_session(self, session_id: str):
-        self.memory.reset(session_id)
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.memory.reset(session_id)