diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 6c09cd9..31774f2 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -46,7 +47,9 @@ func getEnv(key, fallback string) string {
 }
 
 func loadBase() *Config {
-	godotenv.Load() //nolint:errcheck // .env file is optional
+	if err := godotenv.Load(); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("no .env file found, using environment variables and defaults")
+	}
 
 	return &Config{
 		Host: getEnv("HOST", "0.0.0.0"),