diff --git a/.github/workflows/inference.yml b/.github/workflows/inference.yml
index fd98b0c..784e403 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/inference.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/inference.yml
@@ -25,19 +25,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: deploy
         env:
           CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN }}
-          CLOUDFLARE_ACCOUNT_ID: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_ACCOUNT_ID }}
+          CLOUDFLARE_ACCOUNT_ID: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_ACCOUNT_ID || 'dac3b11890319628eb5cd761445b63ee' }}
           VENICE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.VENICE_API_KEY }}
           RUNWARE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.RUNWARE_API_KEY }}       # optional: Runware ACE-Step behind /v1/render
-          TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN: ${{ vars.TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN }}
+          TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN: ${{ vars.TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN || 'yolopreneur.lol' }}
           TIME_INFERENCE_ORIGINS: "*.yolopreneur.lol,gandora.lol,www.gandora.lol"
           TIME_INFERENCE_RENDER_DAILY: "500"
           TIME_INFERENCE_CHAT_DAILY: "1500"
           TIME_INFERENCE_RENDER_TOTAL: "2000"
           TIME_INFERENCE_CHAT_TOTAL: "6000"
-        run: python3 .github/time/inference.py deploy
+        run: |
+          [ -n "$CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN" ] || { echo "::error::stage CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN in this repo's Actions secrets"; exit 1; }
+          python3 .github/time/inference.py deploy
       - name: check
         env:
-          TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN: ${{ vars.TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN }}
+          TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN: ${{ vars.TIME_VENTURE_DOMAIN || 'yolopreneur.lol' }}
         run: |
           sleep 5
           for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6; do python3 .github/time/inference.py check && exit 0; sleep 10; done