diff --git a/lib/coolify.ts b/lib/coolify.ts
index c95efce..42671c0 100644
--- a/lib/coolify.ts
+++ b/lib/coolify.ts
@@ -576,10 +576,26 @@ export async function upsertServiceEnv(
   uuid: string,
   env: ServiceEnvVar,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  await coolifyFetch(`/services/${uuid}/envs`, {
-    method: 'POST',
-    body: JSON.stringify(env),
-  });
+  // Coolify auto-creates env entries (with empty values) for every
+  // ${VAR} reference in the compose file at service-creation time.
+  // POST to /envs returns "already exists" for those — we must use
+  // PATCH to update them. Try POST first, fall back to PATCH.
+  try {
+    await coolifyFetch(`/services/${uuid}/envs`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify(env),
+    });
+  } catch (err: unknown) {
+    const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    if (msg.includes('already exists')) {
+      await coolifyFetch(`/services/${uuid}/envs`, {
+        method: 'PATCH',
+        body: JSON.stringify(env),
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
 }
 
 export async function listAllServices(): Promise<Array<Record<string, unknown>>> {