diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/pricing.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/pricing.ts
index efbdc6f..2e9718f 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/pricing.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/pricing.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ export class PricingService {
     this.workFeeLong = config?.workFeeLongSats ?? 250;
     this.shortMax = config?.shortMaxChars ?? 100;
     this.mediumMax = config?.mediumMaxChars ?? 300;
+    const rawFee = parseInt(process.env.BOOTSTRAP_FEE_SATS ?? "", 10);
     this.bootstrapFee =
       config?.bootstrapFeeSats ??
-      (process.env.BOOTSTRAP_FEE_SATS ? parseInt(process.env.BOOTSTRAP_FEE_SATS, 10) : 10_000);
+      (Number.isFinite(rawFee) && rawFee > 0 ? rawFee : 10_000);
   }
 
   calculateEvalFeeSats(): number {
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/bootstrap.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/bootstrap.ts
index 8876829..fd0404c 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/bootstrap.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/bootstrap.ts
@@ -167,10 +167,11 @@ router.get("/bootstrap/:id", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
             ...(keyNote ? { sshKeyNote: keyNote } : {}),
           },
           nextSteps: [
-            "SSH into your node: ssh root@<nodeIp>",
-            "Bitcoin is syncing — this takes 1-2 weeks: bash /opt/timmy-node/ops.sh sync",
-            "Once sync reaches ~1.0, initialize LND + LNbits: bash /opt/timmy-node/lnd-init.sh",
-            "Auto-configure cold storage sweep: bash /opt/timmy-node/ops.sh configure-sweep",
+            `SSH into your node using the private key above: ssh -i <key_file> root@${job.nodeIp ?? "<nodeIp>"}`,
+            "Read your node credentials: cat /root/node-credentials.txt",
+            "Monitor Bitcoin sync (takes 1-2 weeks): docker exec bitcoin bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo",
+            "Once sync is complete, fund your LND wallet, then open LNbits to create your wallet and get the API key",
+            "Set LNBITS_URL and LNBITS_API_KEY in your Timmy deployment to enable payment processing",
           ],
           stubMode: provisionerService.stubMode,
           message: provisionerService.stubMode