diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c49bd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.env
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fbd8db5..ece7678 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Watt42 View, a browser-based app to visualize a Watt42 system, and to interact with it"
 authors = ["Chris Oloff <chris@uber5.com>"]
 readme = "README.md"
+package-mode = false
 
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
 python = "^3.12"
diff --git a/run.sh b/run.sh
index f8154e6..8c77913 100755
--- a/run.sh
+++ b/run.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ echo "Starting the application..."
 
 PORT=5050
 
+# source .env file if it exists
+if [ -f .env ]; then
+    export $(grep -v '^#' .env | xargs)
+fi
+
 cleanup() {
     echo "Stopping the application..."
     pkill -f "panel serve main.py"