diff --git a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
index 9ebb94d..2e1b019 100644
--- a/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
+++ b/deploy-to-apps.example.sh
@@ -40,6 +40,22 @@ if [ -z "$SAAC_API_KEY" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+if [ -z "$GITEA_API_TOKEN" ]; then
+    echo "❌ Error: GITEA_API_TOKEN environment variable not set"
+    echo ""
+    echo "GITEA_API_TOKEN is required for:"
+    echo "  - Cloning your private repository"
+    echo "  - Setting up automatic deployment webhooks"
+    echo ""
+    echo "To get your Gitea API token:"
+    echo "1. Go to https://git.startanaicompany.com"
+    echo "2. Click your profile → Settings → Applications"
+    echo "3. Generate New Token (grant 'repo' permissions)"
+    echo "4. Export it: export GITEA_API_TOKEN='your_token_here'"
+    echo ""
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # Check required .env variables
 if [ -z "$COMPANY_NAME" ]; then
     echo "❌ Error: COMPANY_NAME not set in .env"
@@ -90,6 +106,7 @@ APP_RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST "${SAAC_API}/applications" \
     \"domain_suffix\": \"recruit.startanaicompany.com\",
     \"git_repository\": \"${REPO_URL}\",
     \"git_branch\": \"master\",
+    \"git_token\": \"${GITEA_API_TOKEN}\",
     \"template_type\": \"recruitment\",
     \"environment_variables\": {
       \"COMPANY_NAME\": \"${COMPANY_NAME}\",
@@ -130,20 +147,6 @@ echo ""
 # Configure webhook for automatic deployments
 echo "🪝 Setting up deployment webhook..."
 
-if [ -z "$GITEA_API_TOKEN" ]; then
-    echo "❌ Error: GITEA_API_TOKEN environment variable not set"
-    echo ""
-    echo "Automatic deployments require GITEA_API_TOKEN to set up webhooks."
-    echo ""
-    echo "To get your Gitea API token:"
-    echo "1. Go to https://git.startanaicompany.com"
-    echo "2. Click your profile → Settings → Applications"
-    echo "3. Generate New Token (grant 'repo' permissions)"
-    echo "4. Export it: export GITEA_API_TOKEN='your_token_here'"
-    echo ""
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 # Create webhook in Gitea
 GITEA_API="https://git.startanaicompany.com/api/v1"
 WEBHOOK_RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST "${GITEA_API}/repos/${GITEA_USERNAME}/${GITEA_REPO_NAME}/hooks" \