diff --git a/backend/app/config.py b/backend/app/config.py
index 22e4e302..feb312b4 100644
--- a/backend/app/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import os
 from functools import lru_cache
-from pathlib import Path
 from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, SettingsConfigDict
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -9,16 +8,12 @@ def resolve_env_file() -> Optional[str]:
     env = os.getenv("ENVIRONMENT", "local")
 
     if env == "local":
-        env_file: Path = Path("backend/.env").resolve()  # resolve to full path
-        print("USING ENV FILE:", env_file)
-        return str(env_file)
+        return "backend/.env"
 
     if env == "test":
-        env_file: Path = Path("backend/.env.test").resolve()
-        print("USING ENV FILE:", env_file)
-        return str(env_file)
+        return "backend/.env.test"
 
-    print("NO ENV FILE")
+    # prod = no env file
     return None