diff --git a/platform/mcp/compose.yaml b/platform/mcp/compose.yaml
index c1021b5..3905418 100644
--- a/platform/mcp/compose.yaml
+++ b/platform/mcp/compose.yaml
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ services:
     build:
       context: .
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.athena-operator
-    image: mike-ai/mcp-athena-operator:2.3.0
+    image: mike-ai/mcp-athena-operator:2.3.1
     container_name: mike-ai-mcp-athena-operator
     environment:
       ATHENA_OPERATOR_SOCKET: /operator/operator.sock
diff --git a/platform/operator/athena_operatord.py b/platform/operator/athena_operatord.py
index 2148377..989c98f 100755
--- a/platform/operator/athena_operatord.py
+++ b/platform/operator/athena_operatord.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 
-VERSION = "2.3.0"
+VERSION = "2.3.1"
 STACK = Path(os.environ.get("ATHENA_OPERATOR_STACK", "/opt/mike-ai/stack")).resolve()
 REPOSITORY = Path(os.environ.get("ATHENA_OPERATOR_REPOSITORY", "/data/mike-ai-operator/repository")).resolve()
 STATE = Path(os.environ.get("ATHENA_OPERATOR_STATE", "/data/mike-ai-operator/state")).resolve()
@@ -65,8 +65,11 @@ ALLOWED_CHECKS = {
     "operator-tests": ["python3", "dev/test_athena_operator.py"],
     "openwebui-filter-tests": ["python3", "dev/test_openwebui_filters.py"],
     "platform-verify": ["bash", "platform/checks/verify-platform.sh"],
-    "compose-main": ["docker", "compose", "-f", "compose.yaml", "config", "-q"],
-    "compose-mcp": ["docker", "compose", "-f", "platform/mcp/compose.yaml", "config", "-q"],
+    # Athena's Compose files deliberately require values from the root-only
+    # runtime environment. Validating without it reports required model/token
+    # variables as missing even though the deployed stack is valid.
+    "compose-main": ["docker", "compose", "--env-file", "/etc/mike-ai/stack.env", "-f", "compose.yaml", "config", "-q"],
+    "compose-mcp": ["docker", "compose", "--env-file", "/etc/mike-ai/stack.env", "-f", "platform/mcp/compose.yaml", "config", "-q"],
 }
 
 # Athena is physically remote. The general terminal is intentionally broad,