diff --git a/public/js/app.js b/public/js/app.js
index a5ee8bc..a4b4111 100644
--- a/public/js/app.js
+++ b/public/js/app.js
@@ -2114,6 +2114,7 @@
   }
 
   function applySiteSettings(settings) {
+    if (!settings) return;
     if (settings.page_name) {
       document.title = settings.page_name;
     }
diff --git a/server/db-schema-check.js b/server/db-schema-check.js
index 3249d85..e37d5ff 100644
--- a/server/db-schema-check.js
+++ b/server/db-schema-check.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
  * Database schema check
  * Ensures required tables and columns exist at startup.
  */
-require('dotenv').config();
-const db = require('./db');
 const path = require('path');
+require('dotenv').config({ path: path.join(__dirname, '..', '.env') });
+const db = require('./db');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
 const SCHEMA = {
diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index de6cc96..25341c5 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-require('dotenv').config();
+const path = require('path');
+require('dotenv').config({ path: path.join(__dirname, '..', '.env') });
 const express = require('express');
 const cors = require('cors');
-const path = require('path');
 const db = require('./db');
 const prometheusService = require('./prometheus-service');
 const cache = require('./cache');
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ app.post('/api/settings', requireAuth, async (req, res) => {
       ]
     );
 
-    res.json({ success: true });
+    res.json({ success: true, settings: getPublicSiteSettings(settings) });
   } catch (err) {
     console.error('Error updating settings:', err);
     res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to update settings' });
@@ -1463,8 +1463,8 @@ async function start() {
       console.error('❌ Critical database initialization error:', dbErr.message);
       // If we have an .env but can't connect, this is a fatal config error
       if (fs.existsSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', '.env'))) {
-        console.error('  Please check your MYSQL settings in .env');
-        process.exit(1);
+        console.error('  Please check your MYSQL settings in .env or run setup wizard.');
+        // Don't exit, allow the user to reach the init/setup page to fix configurations
       }
     }
     
diff --git a/server/init-db.js b/server/init-db.js
index 16ff346..76bbdab 100644
--- a/server/init-db.js
+++ b/server/init-db.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+const path = require('path');
+require('dotenv').config({ path: path.join(__dirname, '..', '.env') });
 const mysql = require('mysql2/promise');
 const checkAndFixDatabase = require('./db-schema-check');
 const db = require('./db');