diff --git a/nanobot/agent/tools/web.py b/nanobot/agent/tools/web.py
index 90cdda8..4ca788c 100644
--- a/nanobot/agent/tools/web.py
+++ b/nanobot/agent/tools/web.py
@@ -58,12 +58,21 @@ class WebSearchTool(Tool):
     }
     
     def __init__(self, api_key: str | None = None, max_results: int = 5):
-        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("BRAVE_API_KEY", "")
+        self._config_api_key = api_key
         self.max_results = max_results
-    
+
+    def _resolve_api_key(self) -> str:
+        """Resolve API key on each call to support hot-reload and env var changes."""
+        return self._config_api_key or os.environ.get("BRAVE_API_KEY", "")
+
     async def execute(self, query: str, count: int | None = None, **kwargs: Any) -> str:
-        if not self.api_key:
-            return "Error: BRAVE_API_KEY not configured"
+        api_key = self._resolve_api_key()
+        if not api_key:
+            return (
+                "Error: Brave Search API key not configured. "
+                "Set it in ~/.nanobot/config.json under tools.web.search.apiKey "
+                "(or export BRAVE_API_KEY), then restart the gateway."
+            )
         
         try:
             n = min(max(count or self.max_results, 1), 10)
@@ -71,7 +80,7 @@ class WebSearchTool(Tool):
                 r = await client.get(
                     "https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/web/search",
                     params={"q": query, "count": n},
-                    headers={"Accept": "application/json", "X-Subscription-Token": self.api_key},
+                    headers={"Accept": "application/json", "X-Subscription-Token": api_key},
                     timeout=10.0
                 )
                 r.raise_for_status()