diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 065a593..8b8f9d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -212,24 +212,24 @@ tokens, cached % and cost. Tool servers log their tools in short wrapped lines;
 token size of the tool definitions. The `Starting ...` line shows the git commit the checkout is on.
 
 ## Environment variables
-### Getting started
-Set exactly one of the three keys.
+### Essential
+Set `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` and exactly one of the three LLM keys.
 
 | Variable | Meaning |
 |---|---|
 | `OPENROUTER_API_KEY` | OpenRouter key; selects the OpenRouter provider (default model `z-ai/glm-5.3-flash`). |
+| `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` | Bot token from @BotFather (required). |
 | `XAI_API_KEY` | xAI key; selects the xAI provider (default model `grok-4.3`). |
 | `ZAI_API_KEY` | z.ai key; selects the z.ai provider (default model `glm-5.3-flash`). |
-| `FAST_MODEL` | Optional cheaper/faster model used for simple requests (TOKEN_SAVER only). |
-| `MODEL` | Model ID (default grok-4.3 on xAI, z-ai/glm-5.3-flash on OpenRouter, glm-5.3-flash on z.ai). |
-| `REASONING` | Reasoning effort: low, medium or high; empty = the model's default (low on z.ai, which cannot turn thinking off). |
-| `SEARCH` | on|off. Web search (and X search on xAI; z.ai's search API on z.ai). Default on. |
 
 ### Common settings
 | Variable | Meaning |
 |---|---|
 | `BOT_TZ` | Time zone for timestamps, e.g. Australia/Melbourne (default UTC). |
-| `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` | Bot token from @BotFather (required). |
+| `FAST_MODEL` | Optional cheaper/faster model used for simple requests (TOKEN_SAVER only). |
+| `MODEL` | Model ID (default grok-4.3 on xAI, z-ai/glm-5.3-flash on OpenRouter, glm-5.3-flash on z.ai). |
+| `REASONING` | Reasoning effort: low, medium or high; empty = the model's default (low on z.ai, which cannot turn thinking off). |
+| `SEARCH` | on|off. Web search (and X search on xAI; z.ai's search API on z.ai). Default on. |
 
 ### Advanced and optional
 | Variable | Meaning |
diff --git a/lib/config.py b/lib/config.py
index b5d87c0..15f8f4e 100644
--- a/lib/config.py
+++ b/lib/config.py
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@
 # Every environment variable the bot reads, with a one-line description. README.md must
 # mention each name (tests/test_config.py enforces it).
 ENV_VARS: dict[str, str] = {
-    # Getting started
+    # Essential
     "OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "OpenRouter key; selects the OpenRouter provider.",
+    "TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN": "Bot token from @BotFather (required).",
     "XAI_API_KEY": "xAI key; selects the xAI provider. Set exactly one of the three keys.",
     "ZAI_API_KEY": "z.ai key; selects the z.ai provider.",
+    # Common settings
+    "BOT_TZ": "Time zone for timestamps, e.g. Australia/Melbourne (default UTC).",
     "FAST_MODEL": "Optional cheaper/faster model used for simple requests (TOKEN_SAVER only).",
     "MODEL": "Model ID (default grok-4.3 on xAI, z-ai/glm-5.3-flash on OpenRouter, glm-5.3-flash on z.ai).",
     "REASONING": "Reasoning effort: low, medium or high; empty = the model's default (low on z.ai, which cannot turn thinking off).",
     "SEARCH": "on|off. Web search (and X search on xAI; z.ai's search API on z.ai). Default on.",
-    # Common settings
-    "BOT_TZ": "Time zone for timestamps, e.g. Australia/Melbourne (default UTC).",
-    "TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN": "Bot token from @BotFather (required).",
     # Advanced and optional
     "ADMIN_CHAT_IDS": "Telegram IDs of the bot's admins (comma/space separated). Your user ID gets MCP-down alerts and may use /credits and /usage; a group's chat ID gets the alerts only. Empty = neither.",
     "DB_PATH": "SQLite file for chat history (default chat_log.db). Instances may share it.",