diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 12e1dfc..6d5c450 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ try {
 }
 const path = require("path");
 const authMiddleware = require("./middleware/authMiddleware");
-const minimal = process.env.MINIMAL_SERVER === 'true';
 
 // Load environment variables
 dotenv.config();
 
+const minimal = process.env.MINIMAL_SERVER === 'true';
+
 const app = express();
 
 // --- PRODUCTION-READY CORS RESTRICTION ---