diff --git a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
index 23f32ff..4d7ce09 100644
--- a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
+++ b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
@@ -288,35 +288,42 @@ else
         exit 1
     fi
 
-    # Handle existing unverified user (api_key will be null)
-    if [ "$EXISTING_USER" = "true" ]; then
-        echo "ℹ️  User already exists but not verified"
-        echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
+    # Check if API key is null (happens when email verification is enabled)
+    if [ "$SAAC_API_KEY" = "null" ] || [ -z "$SAAC_API_KEY" ]; then
+        # API key will be provided after email verification
+        if [ "$EXISTING_USER" = "true" ]; then
+            echo "ℹ️  User already exists but not verified"
+            echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
 
-        if [ "$VERIFICATION_SENT" = "true" ]; then
-            echo "   ✅ New verification code sent!"
-        else
-            echo "   ⚠️  Failed to send verification email"
-        fi
-
-        # Load existing API key from config if it exists
-        if [ -f "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE" ]; then
-            EXISTING_API_KEY=$(jq -r '.saac_api_key // ""' "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE")
-            if [ -n "$EXISTING_API_KEY" ] && [ "$EXISTING_API_KEY" != "null" ]; then
-                SAAC_API_KEY="$EXISTING_API_KEY"
-                echo "   🔑 Using existing API key from config"
+            if [ "$VERIFICATION_SENT" = "true" ]; then
+                echo "   ✅ New verification code sent!"
+            else
+                echo "   ⚠️  Failed to send verification email"
             fi
+
+            # Load existing API key from config if it exists
+            if [ -f "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE" ]; then
+                EXISTING_API_KEY=$(jq -r '.saac_api_key // ""' "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE")
+                if [ -n "$EXISTING_API_KEY" ] && [ "$EXISTING_API_KEY" != "null" ]; then
+                    SAAC_API_KEY="$EXISTING_API_KEY"
+                    echo "   🔑 Using existing API key from config"
+                fi
+            fi
+        else
+            # New user with email verification enabled
+            echo "✅ User registered!"
+            echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
+            echo "   Email verification required"
+            echo ""
+
+            # API key will be null - will get it after verification
+            SAAC_API_KEY=""
         fi
     else
-        # New user - api_key should be present
-        if [ "$SAAC_API_KEY" = "null" ] || [ -z "$SAAC_API_KEY" ]; then
-            echo "❌ Failed to extract API key from registration response"
-            echo "Response: $REGISTER_RESPONSE"
-            exit 1
-        fi
-
+        # API key provided - email verification disabled
         echo "✅ User registered!"
         echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
+        echo "   🔑 API key received"
     fi
 
     echo ""