diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index d441bbaf6..8c93fca2e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN=your_upstash_redis_rest_token
 # console.groq.com → API Keys
 GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_api_key
 
+# -------------------------------------------------------
+# Gemini API Key (optional — enables the /api/ai/roast route)
+# aistudio.google.com → Get API key
+GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_api_key
+
 # -------------------------------------------------------
 # Leaderboard Configuration
 # Controls concurrent user fetches during leaderboard builds
diff --git a/src/app/api/ai/roast/route.ts b/src/app/api/ai/roast/route.ts
index 2eb468a8c..a73950276 100644
--- a/src/app/api/ai/roast/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/ai/roast/route.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
 import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
 import { GoogleGenerativeAI } from '@google/generative-ai';
 
+const GEMINI_API_KEY = process.env.GEMINI_API_KEY || '';
+
 // Initialize the Google Generative AI SDK
-const genAI = new GoogleGenerativeAI(process.env.GEMINI_API_KEY || '');
+const genAI = new GoogleGenerativeAI(GEMINI_API_KEY);
 
 export async function POST(req: Request) {
+  if (!GEMINI_API_KEY) {
+    return NextResponse.json(
+      { error: 'Gemini API key is not configured' },
+      { status: 500 }
+    );
+  }
+
   try {
     const body = await req.json();
     const { mode, stats } = body;