diff --git a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
index f33e1b8..374d391 100644
--- a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
+++ b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
@@ -278,7 +278,8 @@ else
 
     # Extract user data
     USER_ID=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.user_id')
-    SAAC_API_KEY=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.api_key')
+    EMAIL_VERIFIED=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.email_verified // false')
+    SAAC_API_KEY=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.api_key // ""')
     EXISTING_USER=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.existing_user // false')
     VERIFICATION_SENT=$(echo "$REGISTER_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.verification_code_sent // false')
 
@@ -288,9 +289,15 @@ else
         exit 1
     fi
 
-    # 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
+    # Check if user is verified and has API key
+    if [ "$EMAIL_VERIFIED" = "true" ] && [ -n "$SAAC_API_KEY" ] && [ "$SAAC_API_KEY" != "null" ]; then
+        # Email verification disabled OR user already verified - API key provided
+        echo "✅ User registered!"
+        echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
+        echo "   🔑 API key received"
+        echo "   Email verified: true"
+    else
+        # Email verification required
         if [ "$EXISTING_USER" = "true" ]; then
             echo "ℹ️  User already exists but not verified"
             echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
@@ -303,7 +310,7 @@ else
 
             # Load existing API key from config if it exists
             if [ -f "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE" ]; then
-                EXISTING_API_KEY=$(jq -r '.saac_api_key // ""' "$SAAC_CONFIG_FILE")
+                EXISTING_API_KEY=$(jq -r '.user.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"
@@ -313,17 +320,13 @@ else
             # New user with email verification enabled
             echo "✅ User registered!"
             echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
-            echo "   Email verification required"
+            echo "   Email verified: false"
+            echo "   Verification code sent: $VERIFICATION_SENT"
             echo ""
 
-            # API key will be null - will get it after verification
+            # No API key yet - will get after verification
             SAAC_API_KEY=""
         fi
-    else
-        # API key provided - email verification disabled
-        echo "✅ User registered!"
-        echo "   User ID: $USER_ID"
-        echo "   🔑 API key received"
     fi
 
     echo ""