diff --git a/lib/git-utils.ts b/lib/git-utils.ts
index ea1f0fc..71de643 100644
--- a/lib/git-utils.ts
+++ b/lib/git-utils.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ let cachedGitInfo: GitInfo | null = null;
 
 /**
  * Gets the current git commit hash from various sources
- * - First tries environment variable (from Docker)
+ * - First tries to read directly from the Git hash file in Docker
+ * - Then tries environment variable (from Docker)
  * - Then tries the JSON file created by our build script
  * - Returns "dev" if nothing is available
  */
@@ -21,26 +22,16 @@ export async function getGitCommitInfo(): Promise<GitInfo> {
     return cachedGitInfo;
   }
 
-  // First, check if we have the env variable (from Docker)
-  if (process.env.GIT_COMMIT_SHA) {
-    const gitInfo: GitInfo = {
-      commitHash: process.env.GIT_COMMIT_SHA,
-      buildTime: new Date().toISOString(),
-    };
-    cachedGitInfo = gitInfo;
-    return gitInfo;
-  }
-
-  // In Docker, the hash might be stored in a file at /app/git_commit_sha
+  // In Docker or server, try to read the hash file directly first (most reliable method)
   if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
     try {
       const fs = require('fs');
-      const path = require('path');
       
       // Check for Docker-specific git hash file
       const dockerGitHashPath = '/app/git_commit_sha';
       if (fs.existsSync(dockerGitHashPath)) {
         const hash = fs.readFileSync(dockerGitHashPath, 'utf8').trim();
+        console.log(`Read git hash from file: ${hash}`);
         const gitInfo: GitInfo = {
           commitHash: hash,
           buildTime: new Date().toISOString(),
@@ -53,6 +44,21 @@ export async function getGitCommitInfo(): Promise<GitInfo> {
     }
   }
 
+  // Then, check if we have the env variable
+  if (process.env.GIT_COMMIT_SHA) {
+    // Check if it's the literal string, which is an error case
+    if (process.env.GIT_COMMIT_SHA.includes('$(cat')) {
+      console.warn('GIT_COMMIT_SHA contains a shell command instead of the actual hash');
+    } else {
+      const gitInfo: GitInfo = {
+        commitHash: process.env.GIT_COMMIT_SHA,
+        buildTime: new Date().toISOString(),
+      };
+      cachedGitInfo = gitInfo;
+      return gitInfo;
+    }
+  }
+
   // In the browser, fetch from the public directory
   if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
     try {