diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 537b526..382b91a 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -203,6 +203,9 @@ jobs:
 
           # Install deps and restart on server
           echo "Installing deps and restarting PM2..."
-          ssh -o ConnectTimeout=60 -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no tyler@route.crispygoat.com "cd $APP_DIR && npm install --omit=dev 2>&1 | tail -5 && pm2 restart route-commerce || pm2 start npm --name route-commerce -- start -- -p 3100 && pm2 save && sleep 4 && curl -f -s http://localhost:3100/api/health/db-schema || { echo 'Health check failed after start - schema not applied (see plan)'; exit 1; }"
+          # IMPORTANT: --update-env so PM2 re-reads .env. Without it PM2 keeps
+          # the original env vars cached at first start and silently ignores
+          # newly added ones (like SMARTSHEET_*).
+          ssh -o ConnectTimeout=60 -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no tyler@route.crispygoat.com "cd $APP_DIR && npm install --omit=dev 2>&1 | tail -5 && pm2 restart route-commerce --update-env || pm2 start npm --name route-commerce -- start -- -p 3100 && pm2 save && sleep 4 && curl -f -s http://localhost:3100/api/health/db-schema || { echo 'Health check failed after start - schema not applied (see plan)'; exit 1; }"
 
           echo "Deployed successfully"
\ No newline at end of file