From a667a54a7b19c14c13366c1bfaa213c658d0c90d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nathan Schneider <ntnsndr@inference.coop>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:49:01 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] image gen: restore per-member billing (customUserVars + env
 IC_API_KEY); keep system key as safety-net fallback only

---
 librechat.yaml | 8 ++++++--
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/librechat.yaml b/librechat.yaml
index a081ead..3c18ef1 100644
--- a/librechat.yaml
+++ b/librechat.yaml
@@ -179,7 +179,11 @@ mcpServers:
     # Per-user credentials aren't available at boot; each member initializes
     # their own connection after saving their key in the MCP panel.
     startup: false
-    # Images bill to the co-op system key (SYSTEM_IMAGE_KEY) — no per-user
-    # credential gate, so a brand-new member can generate immediately.
+    customUserVars:
+      IC_API_KEY:
+        title: "Inference Co-op API key"
+        description: "Auto-loaded from your membership — no action needed."
+        sensitive: true
     env:
+      IC_API_KEY: "{{IC_API_KEY}}"
       SYSTEM_IMAGE_KEY: "${SYSTEM_IMAGE_KEY}"