diff --git a/src/Framework/Config/Environment.php b/src/Framework/Config/Environment.php
index 48c4c1fe..809f8c83 100644
--- a/src/Framework/Config/Environment.php
+++ b/src/Framework/Config/Environment.php
@@ -192,6 +192,9 @@ final readonly class Environment
                     $resolved[$key] = $secretValue;
                     continue;
                 }
+                // If secret resolution failed, don't add empty value yet
+                // We'll check again in second pass with *_FILE pattern
+                continue;
             }
             // Include non-empty values
             $resolved[$key] = $value;