diff --git a/nix/nixos-module.nix b/nix/nixos-module.nix
index 3deb1e1..342ed89 100644
--- a/nix/nixos-module.nix
+++ b/nix/nixos-module.nix
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ let
     SESSION_SECURE_COOKIE = lib.boolToString cfg.backend.cookieSecure;
   };
 
+  fpmBaseEnvironment = lib.filterAttrs (
+    environmentName: environmentValue: environmentValue != ""
+  ) appEnvironment;
+
+  fpmEnvironment = fpmBaseEnvironment // {
+    APP_KEY = "$APP_KEY";
+  };
+
   artisan = "${phpPackage}/bin/php ${appDir}/artisan";
 
   makeDirectoryRule = path: "d ${path} 0750 ${cfg.user} ${cfg.group} - -";
@@ -238,6 +246,7 @@ in
     services.phpfpm.pools.${poolName} = {
       inherit (cfg) user group;
       inherit phpPackage;
+      phpEnv = fpmEnvironment;
       settings = {
         "catch_workers_output" = true;
         "clear_env" = "no";
@@ -283,7 +292,6 @@ in
     systemd.services.${phpfpmService} = {
       after = [ "${setupService}.service" ];
       requires = [ "${setupService}.service" ];
-      environment = appEnvironment;
       serviceConfig = {
         EnvironmentFile = cfg.backend.environmentFile;
         ReadWritePaths = [