diff --git a/.env.initial b/.env.initial
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1dfcc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.initial
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+REPO_ID=807741852
diff --git a/src/rollout-tools/local/cli.mjs b/src/rollout-tools/local/cli.mjs
index de81f83..b676d0e 100755
--- a/src/rollout-tools/local/cli.mjs
+++ b/src/rollout-tools/local/cli.mjs
@@ -31,6 +31,54 @@ const appendOrUpdateEnv = (key, value) => {
   fs.writeFileSync(envFilePath, envLines.join('\n') + '\n');
 };
 
+// Helper function to copy variables from .env.initial to .env
+const copyInitialEnvVariables = () => {
+  const initialEnvFilePath = '.env.initial';
+  const envFilePath = '.env';
+
+  if (fs.existsSync(initialEnvFilePath)) {
+    const initialEnvContent = fs.readFileSync(initialEnvFilePath, 'utf8');
+    const initialEnvLines = initialEnvContent
+      .split('\n')
+      .filter((line) => line.trim() !== ''); // Remove empty lines
+
+    const envContent = fs.existsSync(envFilePath)
+      ? fs.readFileSync(envFilePath, 'utf8')
+      : '';
+    const envLines = envContent
+      .split('\n')
+      .filter((line) => line.trim() !== ''); // Remove empty lines
+
+    const envVariables = new Map(
+      envLines.map((line) => {
+        const [key, value] = line.split('=');
+        return [key?.trim(), value?.trim()];
+      }),
+    );
+
+    initialEnvLines.forEach((line) => {
+      const [key, value] = line.split('=');
+      if (!envVariables.has(key?.trim())) {
+        envVariables.set(key?.trim(), value?.trim());
+      }
+    });
+
+    const updatedEnvContent = Array.from(envVariables)
+      .map(([key, value]) => `${key}=${value}`)
+      .join('\n');
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(envFilePath, updatedEnvContent + '\n');
+  } else {
+    console.log(
+      colorText(
+        'The .env.initial file is missing. This file is automatically generated when creating a new repository from the GitHub template. Please wait for the action to complete and update your branch afterward. The file should appear in the project root.',
+        'red',
+      ),
+    );
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+};
+
 // Helper function for coloring text
 const colorText = (text, color) => {
   const colors = {
@@ -132,6 +180,9 @@ const main = async () => {
     ),
   );
 
+  // Check for .env.initial and copy variables to .env
+  copyInitialEnvVariables();
+
   // Step 1: Vercel login
   console.log(
     colorText(
diff --git a/src/rollout-tools/local/services.mjs b/src/rollout-tools/local/services.mjs
index 4830228..0341f55 100644
--- a/src/rollout-tools/local/services.mjs
+++ b/src/rollout-tools/local/services.mjs
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ export async function getVercelProjects() {
     );
 
     if (response.status.toString().startsWith('4')) {
+      console.error(response.status);
       throw new Error('Error getVercelProjects');
     }