diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 7cbc25e..1787ad3 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ DB_ROOT_PASSWORD_VERSION=1
 
 APP_ENV=production
 APP_NAME="Open Inventory"
-APP_KEY=
 APP_DEBUG=false
 
 LOG_CHANNEL=stdout
@@ -47,6 +46,6 @@ COMPANY_COUNTRY=""
 COMPANY_TELEPHONE=""
 COMPANY_EMAIL=""
 
-EOTL_PATH_DATA="/home/eotl/data"
-EOTL_URL_DISPATCH="http://localhost:8082"
-EOTL_URL_SEXTANT="http://localhost:8081"
+#EOTL_PATH_DATA="/home/eotl/data"
+#EOTL_URL_DISPATCH="http://localhost:8082"
+#EOTL_URL_SEXTANT="http://localhost:8081"
diff --git a/abra.sh b/abra.sh
index 71d52e4..25fbe28 100644
--- a/abra.sh
+++ b/abra.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ initial_setup() {
   echo "Generating APP_KEY..."
   php artisan key:generate
 
-  php vars.php # TODO: remove! it's a debug
+  # clear config cache, where a previous invalid APP_KEY might still be present
+  clear_cache
+
+  # after generating the APP_KEY, in order for Laravel to pick it up, it needs to be exported
+  export_dot_env .env
 
   echo "DB migrations status:"
   php artisan migrate:status
@@ -53,3 +57,18 @@ create_first_admin_user() {
 
   php artisan user:first "${ADMIN_NAME}" "${ADMIN_EMAIL}" "${ADMIN_PASSWORD}"
 }
+
+export_dot_env() {
+  env_file_path=$1
+
+  if [ ! -f "$env_file_path" ]; then
+      echo "Error: .env file not found at $env_file_path"
+      exit 1
+  fi
+
+  while IFS='=' read -r env_key env_value
+  do
+      export "$env_key=$env_value"
+      echo "Exported: $env_key"
+  done < "$env_file_path"
+}
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index 9539a39..e076c50 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ services:
       - source: entrypoint_conf
         target: /abra-entrypoint.sh
         mode: 0555
-    environment:
-      - DB_PASSWORD_FILE = /run/secrets/db_password
     secrets:
       - db_password
      # TODO: activate health check when done with debug
@@ -81,6 +79,7 @@ secrets:
 
 configs:
   entrypoint_conf:
+    # FIXME: use ENTRYPOINT_CONF_VERSION, instead of hardcoded 'v1', ATM, it's failing when using the var
     name: ${STACK_NAME}_entrypoint_conf_v1
     file: entrypoint.sh.tmpl
     template_driver: golang