diff --git a/tools/python/moderate_routes.py b/tools/python/moderate_routes.py
index f97dd60..d40ad01 100644
--- a/tools/python/moderate_routes.py
+++ b/tools/python/moderate_routes.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import shlex
 import sqlite3
 import sys
+import re
 
 PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 
@@ -16,9 +17,9 @@ def database_path(project_root):
     """Liest die .env; bereits gesetzte Umgebungsvariablen haben Vorrang."""
     settings = {}
     env_file = project_root / ".env"
-    if env_file.is_file():
+    try:
         for number, line in enumerate(env_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig").splitlines(), 1):
-            line = line.strip()
+            line = re.sub(r'^\s*export\s+', '', line).strip()
             if not line or line.startswith("#"):
                 continue
             if line.startswith("export "):