diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 3b68889..156cbf7 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -18,5 +18,9 @@ FORGE_WORKING_DIR=D:/ForgeCommander/forge-repo/forge-gui
 # ── Deck Paths ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Directory containing your precon .dck files.
 # Forge reads deck files directly from this folder.
+#
+# IMPORTANT: lab_api.py reads PRECON_DIR (not PRECON_DECKS_DIR).
+# PRECON_DECKS_DIR is kept below for backwards compat but is NOT used by the server.
+PRECON_DIR=D:\ForgeCommander\commander-ai-lab\precon-decks
 PRECON_DECKS_DIR=D:\ForgeCommander\commander-ai-lab\precon-decks
 FORGE_DECKS_DIR=D:\ForgeCommander\commander-ai-lab\precon-decks