diff --git a/reflect_config.go b/reflect_config.go
index 383820b..1b1f03a 100644
--- a/reflect_config.go
+++ b/reflect_config.go
@@ -116,7 +116,13 @@ func LoadConfig[T any](outptr *T) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	return json.Unmarshal([]byte(os.ExpandEnv(string(configContents))), outptr)
+	return json.Unmarshal([]byte(os.Expand(string(configContents), func(in string) string {
+		envval := os.Getenv(in)
+		if len(envval) == 0 {
+			return "$" + in
+		}
+		return envval
+	})), outptr)
 }
 
 type StorageAddr struct {