diff --git a/artifact_comfyui_download.sh b/artifact_comfyui_download.sh
index 1010441..f9a6e77 100755
--- a/artifact_comfyui_download.sh
+++ b/artifact_comfyui_download.sh
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ COMFYUI_DIR="${COMFYUI_DIR:-${HOME}/ComfyUI/models}"
 COMMAND="both"
 
 # HuggingFace token from environment or .env file
+# Initialize HF_TOKEN if not set
+HF_TOKEN="${HF_TOKEN:-}"
+
 # Try multiple locations for .env file
 if [[ -z "${HF_TOKEN}" ]] && [[ -f "${PROJECT_ROOT}/ai/.env" ]]; then
     HF_TOKEN=$(grep ^HF_TOKEN "${PROJECT_ROOT}/ai/.env" | cut -d'=' -f2- | tr -d '"' | tr -d "'" || true)
@@ -117,7 +120,6 @@ fi
 if [[ -z "${HF_TOKEN}" ]] && [[ -f "/workspace/ai/.env" ]]; then
     HF_TOKEN=$(grep ^HF_TOKEN "/workspace/ai/.env" | cut -d'=' -f2- | tr -d '"' | tr -d "'" || true)
 fi
-HF_TOKEN="${HF_TOKEN:-}"
 
 # ============================================================================
 # UTILITY FUNCTIONS - The Magic Happens Here