diff --git a/firebase-config.js b/firebase-config.js
index db3f00e..9276424 100644
--- a/firebase-config.js
+++ b/firebase-config.js
@@ -1,24 +1,25 @@
 const admin = require('firebase-admin');
-require("dotenv").config();
-const serviceAccount = JSON.parse(process.env.FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT);
 
-try {
-  admin.initializeApp({
-    credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
-    databaseURL: "https://YOUR_PROJECT_ID.firebaseio.com" // Add this line
-  });
-  
-  console.log('Firebase initialized successfully');
-} catch (error) {
-  console.error('Firebase initialization error:', error);
-  process.exit(1); // Exit if Firebase fails to initialize
+let db;
+
+if (!admin.apps.length) {
+  try {
+    const serviceAccount = JSON.parse(process.env.FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT);
+
+    admin.initializeApp({
+      credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
+      // databaseURL is optional unless you use Realtime Database
+    });
+
+    db = admin.firestore();
+    console.log('✅ Firebase Admin initialized');
+
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ Firebase initialization error:', error);
+    throw new Error('Failed to initialize Firebase Admin SDK');
+  }
+} else {
+  db = admin.firestore();
 }
 
-const db = admin.firestore();
-
-// Test connection
-db.collection('users').get()
-  .then(() => console.log('Firestore connection successful'))
-  .catch(err => console.error('Firestore connection error:', err));
-
 module.exports = db;