diff --git a/telegram_bot/api_handling/api_handler.py b/telegram_bot/api_handling/api_handler.py
index 50375a1..5975592 100644
--- a/telegram_bot/api_handling/api_handler.py
+++ b/telegram_bot/api_handling/api_handler.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import sys
 import os
 import requests as r
 from croniter import croniter # used for checking cron formatting
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+load_dotenv() # loads environment vars
 
 # note: for more information about the api visit swagger documentation on https://gruppe1.testsites.info/api/docs#/
 
@@ -356,7 +359,7 @@ class API_Handler:
 if __name__ == "__main__": # editable, just for basic on the go testing of new functions
 
     print("This is a module for the telegram bot. It is not intended to be run directly.")
-    handler = API_Handler("https://gruppe1.testsites.info/api", "<bot-email>", "<bot-pw>") # do not push with real credentials!!
+    handler = API_Handler("https://gruppe1.testsites.info/api", str(os.getenv("BOT_EMAIL")), str(os.getenv("BOT_PASSWORD"))) # get creds from env
     print(handler.token)
     keywords = handler.get_user_keywords(user_id = 1709356058) #user_id here is currently mine (Linus)
     print(keywords)