diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 377ed09..5f281c7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Purpose:
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
-Recommended to put these in the relevant `~/.bashrc` file
+Put these in a `.env` file in the directory that the backup will be run from.
 
 | Env Variable        | Description                                                                                |
 |---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
diff --git a/src/restic/forget.py b/src/restic/forget.py
index b1437b4..6f36a26 100644
--- a/src/restic/forget.py
+++ b/src/restic/forget.py
@@ -95,4 +95,7 @@ def main(loki_url: str, dry_run: bool, **kwargs):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+    load_dotenv()
     main()