diff --git a/counter.go b/counter.go
index fa432c3..057c12a 100644
--- a/counter.go
+++ b/counter.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
@@ -18,7 +19,13 @@ type RequestCounter struct {
 }
 
 // NewRequestCounter creates a new request counter with periodic snapshots
-func NewRequestCounter(snapshotPath string, snapshotInterval time.Duration) (*RequestCounter, error) {
+func NewRequestCounter(snapshotInterval time.Duration) (*RequestCounter, error) {
+	snapshotPath := os.Getenv("REQUEST_COUNTS_PATH")
+	if snapshotPath == "" {
+		err := errors.New("REQUEST_COUNTS_PATH environment variable must be set and non-empty")
+		slog.Error("failed to initialize request counter", "error", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 	c := &RequestCounter{
 		counts:       make(map[string]int64),
 		snapshotPath: snapshotPath,
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 5dad5fc..fcca8ac 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -141,7 +141,13 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	// Initialize request counter with 30-second snapshot interval
-	counter, err := NewRequestCounter("request_counts.json", 30*time.Second)
+	requestCountsPath := os.Getenv("REQUEST_COUNTS_PATH")
+	if requestCountsPath == "" {
+		err = errors.New("REQUEST_COUNTS_PATH environment variable must be set and non-empty")
+		slog.Error("failed to initialize request counter", "error", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	counter, err := NewRequestCounter(30 * time.Second)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Error("failed to initialize request counter", "error", err)
 		os.Exit(1)