diff --git a/simple-block-agreement/README.md b/simple-block-agreement/README.md
index 82104f0..1005944 100644
--- a/simple-block-agreement/README.md
+++ b/simple-block-agreement/README.md
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ This repository contains the core Based Applications Contracts, including UUPS u
 
 ## :page_with_curl: _Instructions for Operator_
 
-**0)** Install a command line tool to load your env automatically, like:
-
-__`❍ brew install autoenv`__
-
 **1)** Fire up your favorite console & clone this repo somewhere:
 
 __`❍ git clone https://github.com/ssvlabs/examples.git`__
@@ -38,9 +34,9 @@ __`❍ npm install`__
 
 __`❍ cp .env.example .env`__
 
-**5)** Load the env:
+**5)** Load the env in your favorite way:
 
-__`❍ cd .`__
+__`❍ source .env`__
 
 **6)** Make sure env is loaded correctly:
 
diff --git a/simple-block-agreement/operator/src/index.ts b/simple-block-agreement/operator/src/index.ts
index 6a87e25..ec74449 100644
--- a/simple-block-agreement/operator/src/index.ts
+++ b/simple-block-agreement/operator/src/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,22 @@ import { getData } from './data/get-data'
 dotenv.config()
 
 const main = async () => {
+  const requiredEnvVars = [
+    'BEACONCHAIN_API',
+    'THE_GRAPH_API',
+    'BAPP_ADDRESS',
+    'USE_EXPONENTIAL_WEIGHT',
+    'USE_HARMONIC_COMBINATION_FUNCTION',
+    'PRIVATE_KEYS',
+  ]
+
+  requiredEnvVars.forEach((envVar) => {
+    if (!process.env[envVar]) {
+      console.error(`Missing required environment variable: ${envVar}`)
+      process.exit(1)
+    }
+  })
+
   const app = new App()
 
   const bAppAddress = process.env.BAPP_ADDRESS || ''