diff --git a/src/app/api/newsletter/route.js b/src/app/api/newsletter/route.js
index b8a3d24c..b12bd78c 100644
--- a/src/app/api/newsletter/route.js
+++ b/src/app/api/newsletter/route.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import mailchimp from "@mailchimp/mailchimp_marketing";
 
 // Validate required environment variables
-const requiredEnvVars = ["MAILCHIMP_API_KEY", "MAILCHIMP_LIST_ID", "MAILCHIMP_SERVER_PREFIX"];
+const requiredEnvVars = ["MAILCHIMP_API_KEY", "MAILCHIMP_LIST_ID", "MAILCHIMP_SERVER_PREFIX", "RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY"];
 for (const envVar of requiredEnvVars) {
 	if (!process.env[envVar]) {
 		console.error(`Missing required environment variable: ${envVar}`);
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ function isValidEmail(email) {
 }
 
 async function verifyRecaptcha(token) {
+	if (!process.env.RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY) {
+		console.error("Missing RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY");
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	try {
 		const response = await fetch("https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify", {
 			method: "POST",
@@ -39,6 +44,11 @@ async function verifyRecaptcha(token) {
 		});
 
 		const data = await response.json();
+
+		if (!data.success) {
+			console.error("reCAPTCHA verification failed:", data["error-codes"]);
+		}
+
 		return data.success;
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error("reCAPTCHA verification failed:", error);
diff --git a/src/components/Newsletter/Newsletter.js b/src/components/Newsletter/Newsletter.js
index 622a4d9c..7102bd50 100644
--- a/src/components/Newsletter/Newsletter.js
+++ b/src/components/Newsletter/Newsletter.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const Newsletter = () => {
 	const [isFocused, setIsFocused] = useState(false);
 	const reCaptchaRef = useRef(null);
 
-	const siteKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY;
+	const siteKey = process.env.RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY;
 
 	const handleChange = (e) => {
 		setEmail(e.target.value);
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ const Newsletter = () => {
 	const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
 		e.preventDefault();
 
+		console.log("Submitting with token:", token);
+
 		if (isSubmitting) return;
 		if (!email) {
 			setStatus("Error");