diff --git a/cli/planoai/config_generator.py b/cli/planoai/config_generator.py
index e77e9255..27768546 100644
--- a/cli/planoai/config_generator.py
+++ b/cli/planoai/config_generator.py
@@ -159,17 +159,20 @@ def validate_and_render_schema():
 
     arch_tracing = config_yaml.get("tracing", {})
 
+    # Resolution order: config yaml > OTEL_TRACING_GRPC_ENDPOINT env var > hardcoded default
     opentracing_grpc_endpoint = arch_tracing.get(
-        "opentracing_grpc_endpoint", DEFAULT_OTEL_TRACING_GRPC_ENDPOINT
+        "opentracing_grpc_endpoint",
+        os.environ.get(
+            "OTEL_TRACING_GRPC_ENDPOINT", DEFAULT_OTEL_TRACING_GRPC_ENDPOINT
+        ),
     )
-    arch_tracing["opentracing_grpc_endpoint"] = opentracing_grpc_endpoint
     # resolve env vars in opentracing_grpc_endpoint if present
     if opentracing_grpc_endpoint and "$" in opentracing_grpc_endpoint:
         opentracing_grpc_endpoint = os.path.expandvars(opentracing_grpc_endpoint)
         print(
             f"Resolved opentracing_grpc_endpoint to {opentracing_grpc_endpoint} after expanding environment variables"
         )
-        arch_tracing["opentracing_grpc_endpoint"] = opentracing_grpc_endpoint
+    arch_tracing["opentracing_grpc_endpoint"] = opentracing_grpc_endpoint
     # ensure that opentracing_grpc_endpoint is a valid URL if present and start with http and must not have any path
     if opentracing_grpc_endpoint:
         urlparse_result = urlparse(opentracing_grpc_endpoint)