diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de00edc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+SLSKD_URL="http://localhost:5030"
+SLSKD_USER="slskd"
+SLSKD_PASS="slskd"
+GOTIFY_URL="https://notify.example.com"
+GOTIFY_TOKEN=""
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c49bd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.env
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d838f2c..5d552f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ Uploads are intentionally **not** counted as activity — they're what you're tr
    sudo chmod +x /opt/arr/slskd/scripts/auto-disconnect.sh
    ```
 
-2. Edit the configuration variables at the top of the script (`SLSKD_URL`, `SLSKD_USER`, `SLSKD_PASS`, `CONTAINER_NAME`, etc.)
+2. Create a `.env` file from the example:
+   ```bash
+   sudo cp .env.example /opt/arr/slskd/scripts/.env
+   sudo nano /opt/arr/slskd/scripts/.env
+   ```
 
 3. Add a cron job (as root):
    ```bash
@@ -40,23 +44,16 @@ Uploads are intentionally **not** counted as activity — they're what you're tr
 
 ## Configuration
 
-Variables at the top of the script:
+The script loads a `.env` file from its own directory. See `.env.example` for all available options.
 
 | Variable | Default | Description |
 |----------|---------|-------------|
 | `SLSKD_URL` | `http://localhost:5030` | slskd API base URL |
 | `SLSKD_USER` | `slskd` | slskd web UI username |
 | `SLSKD_PASS` | `slskd` | slskd web UI password |
-| `CONTAINER_NAME` | `slskd` | Docker container name |
-| `LOG_CHECK_MIN` | `5` | How far back to check docker logs (minutes) |
-| `LOG_MAX_LINES` | `500` | Max log file lines before truncation |
-
-Environment variable overrides:
-
-| Variable | Default | Description |
-|----------|---------|-------------|
 | `SLSKD_IDLE_TIMEOUT` | `30` | Minutes of inactivity before disconnect |
-| `SLSKD_GOTIFY_TOKEN` | *(empty)* | Gotify app token for push notifications |
+| `GOTIFY_URL` | *(empty)* | Gotify server URL for push notifications |
+| `GOTIFY_TOKEN` | *(empty)* | Gotify app token for push notifications |
 
 ## Logs
 
diff --git a/auto-disconnect.sh b/auto-disconnect.sh
index 9d8f77f..e0131d2 100644
--- a/auto-disconnect.sh
+++ b/auto-disconnect.sh
@@ -16,21 +16,29 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+
+# Load .env if present
+if [ -f "$SCRIPT_DIR/.env" ]; then
+    set -a
+    source "$SCRIPT_DIR/.env"
+    set +a
+fi
+
 # --- Configuration ---
-SLSKD_URL="http://localhost:5030"
-SLSKD_USER="slskd"
-SLSKD_PASS="slskd"
+SLSKD_URL="${SLSKD_URL:-http://localhost:5030}"
+SLSKD_USER="${SLSKD_USER:-slskd}"
+SLSKD_PASS="${SLSKD_PASS:-slskd}"
 IDLE_TIMEOUT_MIN="${SLSKD_IDLE_TIMEOUT:-30}"
 LOG_CHECK_MIN=5
 CONTAINER_NAME="slskd"
 
-SCRIPT_DIR="/opt/arr/slskd/scripts"
 STATE_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/.last_active"
 LOG_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/auto-disconnect.log"
 LOG_MAX_LINES=500
 
-GOTIFY_URL="https://notify.thecozycat.net"
-GOTIFY_TOKEN="${SLSKD_GOTIFY_TOKEN:-}"
+GOTIFY_URL="${GOTIFY_URL:-}"
+GOTIFY_TOKEN="${GOTIFY_TOKEN:-}"
 
 # --- Functions ---
 
@@ -105,7 +113,7 @@ seconds_since_active() {
 
 notify() {
     local msg="$1"
-    if [ -n "$GOTIFY_TOKEN" ]; then
+    if [ -n "$GOTIFY_TOKEN" ] && [ -n "$GOTIFY_URL" ]; then
         curl -sf --max-time 10 "$GOTIFY_URL/message" -X POST \
             -H "X-Gotify-Key: $GOTIFY_TOKEN" \
             -F "title=slskd" \