diff --git a/.husky/post-checkout b/.husky/post-checkout
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6cbbc44432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.husky/post-checkout
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+node tools/load-env.js --ensure
diff --git a/tools/load-env.js b/tools/load-env.js
index 3ad24b838b..729bc45f6d 100755
--- a/tools/load-env.js
+++ b/tools/load-env.js
@@ -3,11 +3,22 @@
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-// --ensure flag: skip generation if env.generated.ts already exists
+// --ensure flag: create empty placeholder if env.generated.ts doesn't exist, skip otherwise
 const ensureOnly = process.argv.includes('--ensure');
 const configDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'src/app/config');
 const outputPath = path.join(configDir, 'env.generated.ts');
-if (ensureOnly && fs.existsSync(outputPath)) {
+if (ensureOnly) {
+  if (fs.existsSync(outputPath)) {
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+  if (!fs.existsSync(configDir)) {
+    fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    outputPath,
+    `// This file is auto-generated by tools/load-env.js\n// Run 'npm run env' to populate with values from .env\n\nexport const ENV = {} as const;\n\nexport type EnvVars = typeof ENV;\n`,
+  );
+  console.log(`✅ Created placeholder ${outputPath}`);
   process.exit(0);
 }