diff --git a/next.config.ts b/next.config.ts
index 32f70cf10..42d1630da 100644
--- a/next.config.ts
+++ b/next.config.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+process.env.COMMERCE_PROVIDER ??= 'local';
 // 🔧 fallback so the build never crashes if COMMERCE_PROVIDER is missing
 if (!process.env.COMMERCE_PROVIDER) {
   process.env.COMMERCE_PROVIDER = 'local';