diff --git a/skills/watch/SKILL.md b/skills/watch/SKILL.md
index cb8b072..7cd78b6 100644
--- a/skills/watch/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/watch/SKILL.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ On macOS with Homebrew, it auto-installs `ffmpeg` and `yt-dlp`. On Linux/Windows
   - `balanced` (recommended) — scene-aware frames (cap 100, default).
   - `token-burner` — scene-aware, uncapped (maximum fidelity; high token cost).
 
-Write the answer directly into `~/.config/watch/.env` by setting:
+Write the answer directly into `~/.config/watch/.env` by setting the bare key on its own line — **no trailing inline comment** (a `# note` after the value can break parsing):
 
 ```bash
 WATCH_DETAIL=balanced
diff --git a/skills/watch/scripts/config.py b/skills/watch/scripts/config.py
index 93f70d1..3a97bad 100644
--- a/skills/watch/scripts/config.py
+++ b/skills/watch/scripts/config.py
@@ -32,6 +32,15 @@ def read_env_file(path: Path | None = None) -> dict[str, str]:
         value = value.strip()
         if len(value) >= 2 and value[0] in ('"', "'") and value[-1] == value[0]:
             value = value[1:-1]
+        else:
+            # Strip an inline comment (a '#' preceded by whitespace) from an
+            # unquoted value. Without this, `WATCH_DETAIL=balanced  # note`
+            # parses as "balanced  # note", fails validation, and silently
+            # falls back to the default. Keeps '#' inside quotes / API keys.
+            for i, ch in enumerate(value):
+                if ch == "#" and i > 0 and value[i - 1] in " \t":
+                    value = value[:i].rstrip()
+                    break
         values[key.strip()] = value
     return values
 
diff --git a/skills/watch/scripts/setup.py b/skills/watch/scripts/setup.py
index 5582eb4..9bc2190 100755
--- a/skills/watch/scripts/setup.py
+++ b/skills/watch/scripts/setup.py
@@ -52,8 +52,10 @@ ENV_TEMPLATE = """# /watch API configuration
 GROQ_API_KEY=
 OPENAI_API_KEY=
 
-# Default watch behavior (the /watch first-run wizard sets this for you):
-# WATCH_DETAIL=balanced            # transcript | efficient | balanced | token-burner
+# Default watch behavior (the /watch first-run wizard sets this for you).
+# Allowed values: transcript | efficient | balanced | token-burner
+# Keep the value on its own line with no trailing comment.
+# WATCH_DETAIL=balanced
 """