diff --git a/poc/.env.example b/poc/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f239994
--- /dev/null
+++ b/poc/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Copy to .env. The daemon loads this file and it overrides shell exports.
+VESKSLOP_TTS_NAME=MicroslopSam
+VESKSLOP_TTS_CMD="/path/to/microslopsam/setup/veskslop-tts.sh {out} {text_file}"
+# Generate with: /path/to/microslopsam/setup/veskslop-tts.sh --voices
+VESKSLOP_TTS_VOICES=""
diff --git a/poc/package.json b/poc/package.json
index afa14b4..5af36f6 100644
--- a/poc/package.json
+++ b/poc/package.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     },
     "dependencies": {
         "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "^1.30.0",
+        "dotenv": "^17.4.2",
         "express": "^5.2.1",
         "qrcode": "^1.5.4",
         "qrcode-terminal": "^0.12.0",
diff --git a/poc/pnpm-lock.yaml b/poc/pnpm-lock.yaml
index bc89e06..fa030c8 100644
--- a/poc/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/poc/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ importers:
       '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk':
         specifier: ^1.30.0
         version: 1.30.0(zod@4.6.2)
+      dotenv:
+        specifier: ^17.4.2
+        version: 17.4.2
       express:
         specifier: ^5.2.1
         version: 5.2.1
@@ -363,6 +366,10 @@ packages:
   dijkstrajs@1.0.3:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-qiSlmBq9+BCdCA/L46dw8Uy93mloxsPSbwnm5yrKn2vMPiy8KyAskTF6zuV/j5BMsmOGZDPs7KjU+mjb670kfA==}
 
+  dotenv@17.4.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-nI4U3TottKAcAD9LLud4Cb7b2QztQMUEfHbvhTH09bqXTxnSie8WnjPALV/WMCrJZ6UV/qHJ6L03OqO3LcdYZw==}
+    engines: {node: '>=12'}
+
   dunder-proto@1.0.1:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-KIN/nDJBQRcXw0MLVhZE9iQHmG68qAVIBg9CqmUYjmQIhgij9U5MFvrqkUL5FbtyyzZuOeOt0zdeRe4UY7ct+A==}
     engines: {node: '>= 0.4'}
@@ -1014,6 +1021,8 @@ snapshots:
 
   dijkstrajs@1.0.3: {}
 
+  dotenv@17.4.2: {}
+
   dunder-proto@1.0.1:
     dependencies:
       call-bind-apply-helpers: 1.0.2
diff --git a/poc/src/control-bridge.ts b/poc/src/control-bridge.ts
index 421e020..c5da356 100644
--- a/poc/src/control-bridge.ts
+++ b/poc/src/control-bridge.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
  *   VESKSLOP_SOCKET=/path/to/vesktop-puppet.sock MCP_PORT=8788 pnpm control:bridge
  */
 
+import { config as loadEnv } from "dotenv";
 import { createMcpExpressApp } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/express.js";
 import { McpServer } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/mcp.js";
 import { StreamableHTTPServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/streamableHttp.js";
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ import { PreferencesStore } from "./preferences.js";
 import { Puppet } from "./puppet.js";
 import { startWebUi } from "./webui.js";
 
+loadEnv({ override: true });
+
 const HOST = process.env.MCP_HOST ?? "127.0.0.1";
 const PORT = Number(process.env.MCP_PORT ?? 8788);