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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DiscussionForumPosting","headline":"dotenv: override does not behave correctly with watch enabled","articleBody":"### Version\n\n\\\u003e= 24.12.0\n\n### Platform\n\n```text\nDarwin MBP-M1-RJQ0.local 24.6.0 Darwin Kernel Version 24.6.0: Wed Nov  5 21:33:58 PST 2025; root:xnu-11417.140.69.705.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T6000 arm64\n```\n\n### Subsystem\n\n_No response_\n\n### What steps will reproduce the bug?\n\nSee https://github.com/arkon/nodejs-env-file-override-repro\n\nWhen using `--watch`, subsequent env files do not override the prior ones as expected by the [docs](https://nodejs.org/en/learn/command-line/how-to-read-environment-variables-from-nodejs) if using both `--env-file` and `--env-file-if-exists`:\n\n\u003e Also, you can pass multiple `--env-file` arguments. Subsequent files override pre-existing variables defined in previous files.\n\n```\n=== Test 1: --env-file + --env-file-if-exists ===\nWithout --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\n\nWith --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv       \u003c-- BUG: should be from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv       \u003c-- BUG\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv        \u003c-- BUG\n\n=== Test 2: --env-file + --env-file (works correctly) ===\nWithout --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\n\nWith --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\n\n=== Test 3: --env-file-if-exists + --env-file-if-exists (works correctly) ===\nWithout --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\n\nWith --watch:\nv24.11.1 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.12.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv24.13.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\nv25.3.0 MY_VAR: from_dotenv_local\n```\n\n### How often does it reproduce? Is there a required condition?\n\nThis is always reproducible when using `--watch` and mixing `--env-file` and `--env-file-if-exists`.\n\n### What is the expected behavior? Why is that the expected behavior?\n\nDocumented override behaviour, aligning with behaviour seen when not using `--watch`.\n\n### What do you see instead?\n\nSubsequent env files do not override earlier ones.\n\n### Additional information\n\n_No response_","author":{"url":"https://github.com/arkon","@type":"Person","name":"arkon"},"datePublished":"2026-01-17T16:43:12.000Z","interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":"https://schema.org/CommentAction","userInteractionCount":7},"url":"https://github.com/61412/node/issues/61412"}