diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 0fe2a64..1887ef9 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from modules.common.boot_notice import post_boot_notice
 
 # Version consists of:
 # Major.Enhancement.Minor.Patch.Test  (Test is alphanumeric; doesn’t trigger auto update)
-VERSION = "0.3.9.2.a2"
+VERSION = "0.3.9.2.a3"
 
 # ---------- Env & config loading ----------
 
@@ -25,21 +25,25 @@ if 'DEFAULT' not in config:
     config['DEFAULT'] = {}
 
 def _overlay_env_into_config(cfg: ConfigParser):
-    """
-    Overlay all SHAI_* environment variables into cfg['DEFAULT'] so env wins.
-    Also accept SHAI_DATA_FILE or SHAI_DATA for data_file.
-    """
     d = cfg['DEFAULT']
     for k, v in os.environ.items():
         if not k.startswith('SHAI_'):
             continue
-        key = k[5:].lower()  # drop 'SHAI_'
+        key = k[5:].lower()
         if key == 'data':
             key = 'data_file'
-        d[key] = str(v)
+        if v is None:
+            continue
+        vv = str(v).strip().strip('"').strip("'")
+        if key == 'data_file' and not vv:
+            continue
+        d[key] = vv
     if not d.get('data_file', '').strip():
         d['data_file'] = '/data/data.json'
 
+print("[Config] SHAI_CONFIG:", os.getenv('SHAI_CONFIG', '(unset)'))
+print("[Config] DEFAULT keys now:", list(config['DEFAULT'].keys()))
+
 # IMPORTANT: apply env overlay BEFORE we read values from config
 _overlay_env_into_config(config)
 
@@ -55,9 +59,11 @@ intents.voice_states = True
 
 # ---------- Bot + DataManager ----------
 
-data_file = config['DEFAULT']['data_file']  # guaranteed present by overlay
+ddefault = config['DEFAULT']
+data_file = (ddefault.get('data_file', '') or '').strip() or '/data/data.json'
 if not TOKEN:
     print("[Config] WARNING: DISCORD_TOKEN not set (env). Bot will fail to log in.")
+print(f"[Config] Using data_file: {data_file}")
 
 bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix='!', intents=intents)
 bot.config = config