diff --git a/controller/main.go b/controller/main.go
index 3ce532d..31615c9 100644
--- a/controller/main.go
+++ b/controller/main.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// gin stuff
 	basePath := "/api/controller"
-	if os.Getenv("NODE_ENV") != "production" {
+	if os.Getenv("APP_MODE") != "production" {
 		basePath = "/lst/api/controller"
 	}
 
@@ -139,7 +139,16 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	go bot.TheBot()
+	// only activate the bot if its on VMS036 or my dev server
+	host, err := os.Hostname()
+	if err != nil {
+		server.BroadcastToRoom("/", "update", "updateLogs", "Could not retrieve hostname")
+		return
+	}
+	if host == os.Getenv("PRIMARY_SERVER") {
+		go bot.TheBot()
+	}
+
 	go server.Serve()
 	defer server.Close()