diff --git a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
index 7bd337c..ae37b85 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ export async function GET() {
 ### Pre-Deployment
 
 - [ ] All environment variables are set correctly
+- [ ] Environment variable names do not start with `GITHUB_` (reserved for GitHub Actions)
 - [ ] JWT secrets are cryptographically secure (32+ characters)
 - [ ] Database security rules are configured
 - [ ] API rate limiting is enabled
diff --git a/lib/config/README.md b/lib/config/README.md
index f4d575e..0bb902d 100644
--- a/lib/config/README.md
+++ b/lib/config/README.md
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ The configuration system validates:
 - **Secret strength** meets requirements
 - **Environment-specific** requirements
 - **Security best practices**
+- **GitHub reserved names** are not used for environment variables
 
 ### Validation Errors
 
@@ -236,6 +237,7 @@ The system will exit with an error if:
 - Variables have invalid formats
 - Security requirements are not met
 - Environment-specific requirements are not satisfied
+- Environment variable names start with `GITHUB_` (reserved for GitHub Actions)
 
 ### Validation Warnings
 
@@ -266,6 +268,7 @@ The system will warn about:
 - Use strong secrets even in development
 - Don't commit real credentials
 - Use test/development API keys
+- Avoid environment variable names starting with `GITHUB_` to prevent conflicts with GitHub Actions
 
 ## Testing
 
@@ -301,11 +304,16 @@ The test suite covers:
    - Generate a longer, more secure secret
    - Use a password generator for strong secrets
 
-4. **Configuration not loading**
+4. **"Configuration not loading"**
    - Ensure `initializeConfiguration()` is called on startup
    - Check for syntax errors in environment files
    - Verify file permissions on credential files
 
+5. **"Environment variable 'GITHUB_X' starts with 'GITHUB_' prefix"**
+   - Rename the environment variable to avoid conflicts with GitHub Actions
+   - GitHub reserves all environment variables starting with `GITHUB_`
+   - Use an alternative prefix like `APP_`, `CUSTOM_`, or your application name
+
 ### Debug Mode
 
 Enable debug logging to troubleshoot configuration issues:
diff --git a/lib/config/__tests__/config.test.ts b/lib/config/__tests__/config.test.ts
index 537c0a6..2fba64e 100644
--- a/lib/config/__tests__/config.test.ts
+++ b/lib/config/__tests__/config.test.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,50 @@ describe('Configuration System', () => {
         result.warnings.some(warning => warning.includes('placeholder'))
       ).toBe(true)
     })
+
+    it('should fail validation with GITHUB_ prefixed environment variables', () => {
+      // Add a GITHUB_ prefixed environment variable
+      process.env.GITHUB_SECRET = 'test-secret'
+      process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN = 'test-token'
+
+      const result = validateConfiguration()
+      expect(result.success).toBe(false)
+      expect(
+        result.errors.some(error => 
+          error.includes("Environment variable 'GITHUB_SECRET'") && 
+          error.includes("starts with 'GITHUB_' prefix")
+        )
+      ).toBe(true)
+      expect(
+        result.errors.some(error => 
+          error.includes("Environment variable 'GITHUB_TOKEN'") && 
+          error.includes("starts with 'GITHUB_' prefix")
+        )
+      ).toBe(true)
+
+      // Clean up
+      delete process.env.GITHUB_SECRET
+      delete process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN
+    })
+
+    it('should allow non-GITHUB_ prefixed environment variables', () => {
+      // Add some custom environment variables that should be allowed
+      process.env.CUSTOM_SECRET = 'test-secret'
+      process.env.MY_TOKEN = 'test-token'
+
+      const result = validateConfiguration()
+      // Should not fail due to these custom variables
+      expect(
+        result.errors.some(error => error.includes("CUSTOM_SECRET"))
+      ).toBe(false)
+      expect(
+        result.errors.some(error => error.includes("MY_TOKEN"))
+      ).toBe(false)
+
+      // Clean up
+      delete process.env.CUSTOM_SECRET
+      delete process.env.MY_TOKEN
+    })
   })
 
   describe('Environment-Specific Configuration', () => {
diff --git a/lib/config/validator.ts b/lib/config/validator.ts
index 80a34cd..e6fcb61 100644
--- a/lib/config/validator.ts
+++ b/lib/config/validator.ts
@@ -225,6 +225,18 @@ function validateSecurityConfig(
     result.errors.push('WEBHOOK_SECRET must be at least 16 characters long')
   }
 
+  // Check for GitHub reserved environment variable names
+  const githubReservedNames = Object.keys(process.env).filter(name =>
+    name.startsWith('GITHUB_')
+  )
+  if (githubReservedNames.length > 0) {
+    githubReservedNames.forEach(name => {
+      result.errors.push(
+        `Environment variable '${name}' starts with 'GITHUB_' prefix which is reserved for GitHub Actions. Please rename this variable to avoid conflicts with GitHub's reserved environment variables.`
+      )
+    })
+  }
+
   // Check for weak secrets in production
   if (env === 'production') {
     const weakPatterns = ['password', '123456', 'secret', 'admin']