diff --git a/ods/extensions/services/dashboard-api/config.py b/ods/extensions/services/dashboard-api/config.py
index 9532fccea..2243ca23f 100644
--- a/ods/extensions/services/dashboard-api/config.py
+++ b/ods/extensions/services/dashboard-api/config.py
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ def _find_env_file_value(key: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     value = ""
     try:
         for line in env_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
+            line = line.strip()
+            if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+                continue
             if line.startswith(f"{key}="):
                 found = True
                 value = line.split("=", 1)[1].strip().strip("\"'")