diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 9c54d3f..0e5df86 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -70,30 +70,46 @@ class FlicButtonHandler:
 
     def _decode_vapid_private_key(self):
         """
-        Load the VAPID private key from environment variable.
-        Handles the \n escaped format from .env file.
+        Final robust VAPID private key loader
+        Handles all possible key formats and provides detailed debugging
         """
         try:
-            # Get the key from environment
-            env_key = os.getenv('VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY', '').strip()
+            # Get and clean the key from environment
+            env_key = os.getenv('VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY', '').strip().strip('"\'')
             
-            # Convert escaped newlines back to actual newlines
-            private_pem = env_key.replace('\\n', '\n')
+            # Debug output
+            logger.debug(f"Raw env key length: {len(env_key)}")
+            logger.debug(f"Key starts with: {env_key[:50]}")
             
-            # Verify PEM format
+            # Convert to PEM format
+            if '\\n' in env_key:
+                # Handle escaped newlines (from .env file)
+                private_pem = env_key.replace('\\n', '\n')
+            elif '-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----' in env_key:
+                # Already in PEM format
+                private_pem = env_key
+            else:
+                # Assume base64 encoded
+                private_pem = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(env_key).decode('utf-8')
+            
+            # Ensure proper PEM format
             if not private_pem.startswith('-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----'):
-                raise ValueError("Invalid PEM format")
+                private_pem = f"-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----\n{private_pem}\n-----END PRIVATE KEY-----"
+            
+            # Final validation
+            try:
+                key = serialization.load_pem_private_key(
+                    private_pem.encode('utf-8'),
+                    password=None
+                )
+                logger.debug("VAPID private key successfully loaded")
+                return private_pem
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Key validation failed: {str(e)}")
+                raise ValueError(f"Invalid private key format") from e
                 
-            # Validate the key
-            serialization.load_pem_private_key(
-                private_pem.encode('utf-8'),
-                password=None
-            )
-            
-            return private_pem
-            
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"VAPID key error: {str(e)}")
+            logger.error(f"VAPID key loading failed: {str(e)}")
             raise
 
     def load_subscriptions(self) -> List[Dict]: