diff --git a/docs/deployment.md b/docs/deployment.md
index 60f03a1..37b6086 100644
--- a/docs/deployment.md
+++ b/docs/deployment.md
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ Note: These steps have to be done by a Workspace Admin (otherwise it will be una
    OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_LOGS_BASIC_AUTH="username:password"
    # You can change the OTel service name if you want, but you don't have to
    OTEL_SERVICE_NAME="nephthys"
-   # Setting this to any value disables daily summary messages (yes, this is counter-intuitive and will be changed soon)
-   DAILY_SUMMARY=""
+   # Set this to false to disable daily summary messages in the BTS channel
+   DAILY_SUMMARY=true
    # Set the log level (defaults to "WARNING" in production)
    LOG_LEVEL="WARNING"
    # Override the log level for console output
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ Note: These steps have to be done by a Workspace Admin (otherwise it will be una
 
    # Allow the poster of a question to give feedback after their ticket is resolved
    # Feedback is stored in the "Feedback" table. Disabled by default.
-   ENABLE_FEEDBACK=true
+   ENABLE_FEEDBACK=false
 
    # Optional: Enable stale ticket auto-close
    # Tickets inactive for this many days will be automatically closed
    # Leave unset to disable
-   STALE_TICKET_DAYS="7"
+   STALE_TICKET_DAYS="" # e.g. 7
    ```
 
 4. Don't forget to click **Save All Environment Variables**
diff --git a/nephthys/utils/env.py b/nephthys/utils/env.py
index 6baee2a..9b928db 100644
--- a/nephthys/utils/env.py
+++ b/nephthys/utils/env.py
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.slack_bts_channel = os.environ.get("SLACK_BTS_CHANNEL", "unset")
         self.slack_maintainer_id = os.environ.get("SLACK_MAINTAINER_ID", "unset")
         self.program = os.environ.get("PROGRAM", "summer_of_making")
-        self.daily_summary = True if not os.environ.get("DAILY_SUMMARY") else False
-        self.enable_feedback = get_environ_bool("ENABLE_FEEDBACK", False)
+        self.daily_summary = get_environ_bool("DAILY_SUMMARY", default=True)
+        self.enable_feedback = get_environ_bool("ENABLE_FEEDBACK", default=False)
         self.app_title = os.environ.get("APP_TITLE", "helper heidi")
 
         self.port = int(os.environ.get("PORT", 3000))