diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 986806f..6f128b3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Codey Bot
 
+## Required environment variables
+- `BOT_TOKEN`: the token found in the bot user account.
+- `NOTIF_CHANNEL_ID`: the ID of the channel the bot will send system notifications to.
+
 ## Running the bot locally
 1. Run `yarn` to install dependencies.
-1. Add the bot token in your `.env` file, i.e. add `BOT_TOKEN="YOUR_TOKEN"` in `.env`.
+1. Add the required environment variables in a `.env` file in the root directory.
 1. Run `yarn dev` to start the bot locally.
diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index 003a8bd..a0b4393 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ dotenv.config()
 import Discord = require('discord.js')
 import _ = require('lodash')
 
-const NOTIF_CHANNEL_ID = "701335585272627203"
+const NOTIF_CHANNEL_ID: string = process.env.NOTIF_CHANNEL_ID
 const BOT_TOKEN: string = process.env.BOT_TOKEN
 const BOT_PREFIX = "."