diff --git a/scripts/run_upstream_watch.sh b/scripts/run_upstream_watch.sh
index 216a0663..674dde91 100755
--- a/scripts/run_upstream_watch.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_upstream_watch.sh
@@ -9,10 +9,15 @@ DAYS=${1:-30}
 
 echo "Running TurboQuant upstream watch for last $DAYS days..."
 
-# Check if GitHub token is set
+# Check if GitHub token is set (env var or ~/.config/github/token file)
+if [ -z "$GITHUB_TOKEN" ] && [ -f "$HOME/.config/github/token" ]; then
+    export GITHUB_TOKEN=$(cat "$HOME/.config/github/token" | tr -d '[:space:]')
+    echo "Loaded GitHub token from ~/.config/github/token"
+fi
+
 if [ -z "$GITHUB_TOKEN" ]; then
     echo "Warning: GITHUB_TOKEN not set. Using unauthenticated API (60 req/hour limit)."
-    echo "Set GITHUB_TOKEN for higher rate limits."
+    echo "Set GITHUB_TOKEN or create ~/.config/github/token for higher rate limits."
     echo ""
 fi