diff --git a/crates/git-credential-nostr/README.md b/crates/git-credential-nostr/README.md
index 827f8d55a3..cf56a56b27 100644
--- a/crates/git-credential-nostr/README.md
+++ b/crates/git-credential-nostr/README.md
@@ -30,14 +30,19 @@ That's it. Use git normally — `git clone`, `git push`, `git fetch`.
 
 ## CI / CD
 
-Set `$NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` instead of a key file. The env var takes precedence
-over `nostr.keyfile` and avoids touching the filesystem:
+Set `$NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` or `$BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY` instead of a key file. The
+env vars take precedence over `nostr.keyfile` and avoid touching the
+filesystem:
 
 ```bash
 export NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY=nsec1...
 git clone https://relay.example.com/git/owner/repo.git
 ```
 
+`$BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY` uses the same name as the rest of the Buzz ecosystem
+(`buzz-cli`, the ACP/MCP shim, and `buzz-admin`). `$NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` is
+still accepted for backward compatibility and wins when both are set.
+
 ## How It Works
 
 When a Buzz git server returns `HTTP 401` with a
@@ -61,7 +66,7 @@ git ──stdin──▶ git-credential-nostr ──stdout──▶ git
 
 | Error | Cause | Fix |
 |-------|-------|-----|
-| `no nostr key configured` | Neither `$NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` nor `nostr.keyfile` is set | Follow the Setup steps above |
+| `no nostr key configured` | None of `$NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY`, `$BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY`, or `nostr.keyfile` is set | Follow the Setup steps above |
 | `insecure permissions` | Key file is readable by group/others | `chmod 600 ~/.nostr/key` |
 | `method hint` | Server's `WWW-Authenticate` header is missing `method="..."` | Upgrade the Buzz server |
 | `useHttpPath` | `credential.useHttpPath` is not set | `git config --global credential.useHttpPath true` |
diff --git a/crates/git-credential-nostr/src/lib.rs b/crates/git-credential-nostr/src/lib.rs
index b51443600d..507b311e20 100644
--- a/crates/git-credential-nostr/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/git-credential-nostr/src/lib.rs
@@ -47,14 +47,32 @@ fn check_keyfile_permissions(path: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
 /// Max keyfile size — nsec1 is 63 bytes; hex keys are 64 bytes. 256 is generous.
 const MAX_KEYFILE_BYTES: u64 = 256;
 
+fn non_empty_env(name: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    std::env::var(name).ok().filter(|v| !v.is_empty())
+}
+
 fn load_key() -> Result<String, String> {
-    if let Ok(val) = std::env::var("NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY") {
-        if !val.is_empty() {
-            return Ok(val);
+    let nostr = non_empty_env("NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY");
+    let buzz = non_empty_env("BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY");
+
+    // If both identity env vars are set to different values, the older
+    // $NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY wins for backward compatibility. Warn the caller so
+    // the silent wrong-identity trap described in the issue is at least audible.
+    if let (Some(n), Some(b)) = (&nostr, &buzz) {
+        if n != b {
+            eprintln!("warning: $BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY is set but will not be used because $NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY is also set to a different value");
         }
     }
+
+    if let Some(n) = nostr {
+        return Ok(n);
+    }
+    if let Some(b) = buzz {
+        return Ok(b);
+    }
+
     let path = git_config("nostr.keyfile").ok_or_else(|| {
-        "no nostr key configured. Set $NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY or git config nostr.keyfile".to_string()
+        "no nostr key configured. Set $NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY, $BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY, or git config nostr.keyfile".to_string()
     })?;
     check_keyfile_permissions(&path)?;
     let meta = std::fs::metadata(&path).map_err(|e| format!("cannot stat keyfile {path}: {e}"))?;
diff --git a/crates/git-credential-nostr/tests/integration.rs b/crates/git-credential-nostr/tests/integration.rs
index 6697b45f39..7ecc76f35e 100644
--- a/crates/git-credential-nostr/tests/integration.rs
+++ b/crates/git-credential-nostr/tests/integration.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ fn run_helper(input: &str, env_vars: &[(&str, &str)]) -> std::process::Output {
         .stderr(Stdio::piped())
         .current_dir(std::env::temp_dir())
         .env_remove("NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY")
+        .env_remove("BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY")
         .env_remove("BUZZ_AUTH_TAG")
         .env_remove("GIT_CONFIG_COUNT")
         // Prevent git config on the test machine from supplying credentials.
@@ -354,3 +355,86 @@ fn bad_keyfile_permissions() {
         "expected 'insecure permissions' in stderr, got:\n{stderr}"
     );
 }
+
+/// The helper must accept `BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY` as a fallback when `NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY`
+/// is not set, so users who export the ecosystem-standard env get the right
+/// identity (regression for #4712).
+#[test]
+fn buzz_private_key_only() {
+    let nsec = fresh_nsec();
+    let keys = Keys::parse(&nsec).expect("valid nsec");
+    let out = run_helper(&valid_input(), &[("BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY", &nsec)]);
+
+    assert!(
+        out.status.success(),
+        "expected exit 0, got {:?}\nstderr: {}",
+        out.status.code(),
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr)
+    );
+
+    let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout);
+    let credential = stdout
+        .lines()
+        .find_map(|line| line.strip_prefix("credential="))
+        .expect("credential output");
+    let event_json = base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD
+        .decode(credential)
+        .expect("base64 credential");
+    let event: nostr::Event = serde_json::from_slice(&event_json).expect("NIP-98 event");
+
+    assert!(event.verify().is_ok(), "event must verify");
+    assert_eq!(
+        event.pubkey.to_hex(),
+        keys.public_key().to_hex(),
+        "helper must sign with the BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY identity"
+    );
+}
+
+/// When both identity env vars are set to different values, `NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY`
+/// wins for backward compatibility and the helper warns that `BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY`
+/// is being ignored.
+#[test]
+fn both_envs_set_and_different_warns() {
+    let nostr_keys = Keys::generate();
+    let buzz_keys = Keys::generate();
+    let nostr_nsec = nostr_keys.secret_key().to_bech32().unwrap();
+    let buzz_nsec = buzz_keys.secret_key().to_bech32().unwrap();
+
+    let out = run_helper(
+        &valid_input(),
+        &[
+            ("NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY", &nostr_nsec),
+            ("BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY", &buzz_nsec),
+        ],
+    );
+
+    assert!(
+        out.status.success(),
+        "expected exit 0, got {:?}\nstderr: {}",
+        out.status.code(),
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr)
+    );
+
+    let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout);
+    let credential = stdout
+        .lines()
+        .find_map(|line| line.strip_prefix("credential="))
+        .expect("credential output");
+    let event_json = base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD
+        .decode(credential)
+        .expect("base64 credential");
+    let event: nostr::Event = serde_json::from_slice(&event_json).expect("NIP-98 event");
+
+    assert!(event.verify().is_ok(), "event must verify");
+    assert_eq!(
+        event.pubkey.to_hex(),
+        nostr_keys.public_key().to_hex(),
+        "NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY must take precedence"
+    );
+
+    let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr);
+    assert!(
+        stderr.contains("warning:"),
+        "expected a warning on stderr when BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY is set but unused, got:\n{stderr}"
+    );
+}
diff --git a/docs/remote-agents.md b/docs/remote-agents.md
index 48ce85f5e5..893cc81cc5 100644
--- a/docs/remote-agents.md
+++ b/docs/remote-agents.md
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ individually:
 | source | env var |
 |---|---|
 | `relay_url` | `BUZZ_RELAY_URL` |
-| `private_key_nsec` | `BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY` and `NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` (the git helpers read the latter) |
+| `private_key_nsec` | `BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY` and `NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY` (git helpers prefer `NOSTR_PRIVATE_KEY`, then fall back to `BUZZ_PRIVATE_KEY`) |
 | `auth_tag` | `BUZZ_AUTH_TAG` (omitted when null; then `launch.owner_pubkey` → `BUZZ_ACP_AGENT_OWNER` is REQUIRED — §Launch data owner rule) |
 | `launch.command` | `BUZZ_ACP_AGENT_COMMAND` — the *name*, resolved against the image's own PATH; never a forwarded host path |
 | `launch.args` | `BUZZ_ACP_AGENT_ARGS`, comma-joined |