diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 98acc75..1abcac3 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Keep changes small, reviewable, and tied to a clear project purpose. Do not mix
 ## Before Committing
 
 - Run the relevant build, lint, or smoke test when the project provides one.
-- Check that no credentials,  files, tokens, private keys, captures, dumps, or personal data are staged.
+- Check that no credentials, `.env` files, tokens, private keys, captures, dumps, or personal data are staged.
 - Keep firmware binaries, large archives, and generated artifacts out of Git unless the repo explicitly documents otherwise.
 - Preserve upstream licenses and attribution for third-party code.