diff --git a/cashu/core/settings.py b/cashu/core/settings.py
index 3ab3bc7..441d873 100644
--- a/cashu/core/settings.py
+++ b/cashu/core/settings.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ if os.path.isfile(ENV_FILE):
     env.read_env(ENV_FILE)
 else:
     ENV_FILE = ""
-    env.read_env()
+    env.read_env(recurse=False)
 
 DEBUG = env.bool("DEBUG", default=False)
 if not DEBUG: