diff --git a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/package.json b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/package.json
index 54c778f0..a07a3777 100644
--- a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/package.json
+++ b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
     "@microsoft/agents-a365-tooling": "^0.1.0-preview.30",
     "@microsoft/agents-a365-tooling-extensions-openai": "^0.1.0-preview.30",
     "@microsoft/agents-a365-observability-extensions-openai": "^0.1.0-preview.30",
-    "@openai/agents": "0.1.11",
+    "@openai/agents": "^0.1.11",
+    "openai": "^4.77.0",
     "dotenv": "^17.2.2",
     "express": "^5.1.0"
   },
@@ -36,11 +37,10 @@
     "rimraf": "^5.0.0",
     "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
     "typescript": "^5.9.2"
-  }
-  ,
-  "pnpm": {
-    "overrides": {
-      "@openai/agents-core": "0.1.11"
-    }
+  },
+  "overrides": {
+    "@openai/agents-core": "$@openai/agents",
+    "@openai/agents-openai": "$@openai/agents",
+    "openai": "$openai"
   }
 }
diff --git a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/client.ts b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/client.ts
index 56e05908..afd23b81 100644
--- a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/client.ts
+++ b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/client.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
 // Licensed under the MIT License.
 
+// IMPORTANT: Load environment variables FIRST before any other imports
+// This ensures AZURE_OPENAI_* and other config is available when packages initialize
+import { configDotenv } from 'dotenv';
+configDotenv();
+
 import { Agent, run } from '@openai/agents';
 import { Authorization, TurnContext } from '@microsoft/agents-hosting';
 
diff --git a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/index.ts b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/index.ts
index 9977ff36..cbf77dae 100644
--- a/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/index.ts
+++ b/nodejs/openai/sample-agent/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
 // Licensed under the MIT License.
 
-// Note: dotenv is loaded in agent.ts before AgentApplication is instantiated
+// IMPORTANT: Load environment variables FIRST before any other imports
+// This ensures all config is available when packages initialize at import time
+import { configDotenv } from 'dotenv';
+configDotenv();
 
 import { AuthConfiguration, authorizeJWT, CloudAdapter, loadAuthConfigFromEnv, Request } from '@microsoft/agents-hosting';
 import express, { Response } from 'express'