diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 33404c7..fb1d3ba 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -22,15 +22,25 @@ app.add_middleware(
 
 @app.on_event("startup")
 def startup():
+    import logging
+    _log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
     init_db()
+
     # Clean up cycles that were left in 'running' state by a previous crashed process
     stale = cleanup_stale_running_cycles()
     if stale:
-        import logging
-        logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(
-            f"[Startup] Cleaned up {stale} stale 'running' cycle(s) — server likely reloaded mid-cycle"
-        )
+        _log.warning(f"[Startup] Cleaned up {stale} stale 'running' cycle(s) — server likely reloaded mid-cycle")
+
+    # Sync OpenAI key: env var → DB (useful on fresh VPS deployments)
     key = get_config("openai_api_key") or ""
+    if not key:
+        env_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY", "")
+        if env_key:
+            from services.database import save_config
+            save_config("openai_api_key", env_key)
+            key = env_key
+            _log.info("[Startup] OPENAI_API_KEY synced from environment to DB config")
     if key:
         os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = key
     # Seed built-in patterns into DB (idempotent)
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Config.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Config.tsx
index 67157f0..ab46311 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Config.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Config.tsx
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ export default function Config() {
         <RiskProfilesCard />
 
         {cs?.last_cycle && (
-          <div className="card bg-dark-700/50 mb-4 text-xs space-y-2">
+          <div className="card bg-dark-700/50 mb-2 text-xs space-y-2">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-4 flex-wrap">
               <span className="text-slate-500">Dernier cycle :</span>
               <span className="text-slate-300">{cs.last_cycle.started_at?.slice(0, 16)} UTC</span>
@@ -732,9 +732,11 @@ export default function Config() {
               <span className="text-slate-500">Géo: {cs.last_cycle.geo_score}</span>
               <span className="text-slate-500 capitalize">{cs.last_cycle.dominant_regime}</span>
             </div>
-            {cs.enabled && cs.next_run_at && !cs.running && (
-              <NextRunCountdown nextRunAt={cs.next_run_at} />
-            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {cs?.enabled && cs?.next_run_at && !cs?.running && (
+          <div className="card bg-dark-700/50 mb-4 text-xs">
+            <NextRunCountdown nextRunAt={cs.next_run_at} />
           </div>
         )}