diff --git a/bot/package.json b/bot/package.json
index 9f42fc6..2294704 100644
--- a/bot/package.json
+++ b/bot/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
   "scripts": {
     "build": "tsc",
     "start": "node dist/index.js",
-    "dev": "tsx src/index.ts"
+    "dev": "tsx src/index.ts",
+    "assistant": "tsx src/test-assistant.ts"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@mariozechner/pi-ai": "^0.51.2",
diff --git a/bot/src/llm.ts b/bot/src/llm.ts
index 7c32dc3..6b34e51 100644
--- a/bot/src/llm.ts
+++ b/bot/src/llm.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ import { getNipInfo, searchNips } from "./data/nips.js";
 const PROVIDER = process.env.LLM_PROVIDER || "anthropic";
 const MODEL_ID = process.env.LLM_MODEL || "claude-3-5-haiku-20241022";
 
+// API key from environment
+const API_KEY = process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
+
+if (!API_KEY) {
+  console.error("ERROR: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is not set.");
+  console.error("Please set it before running the bot:");
+  console.error("  export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...");
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
 // Use default model for simplicity (typed correctly)
 const model = getModel("anthropic", "claude-3-5-haiku-20241022");
 
@@ -247,7 +257,14 @@ export async function processMessage(userMessage: string): Promise<string> {
   while (iterations < maxIterations) {
     iterations++;
 
-    const response = await complete(model, context);
+    const response = await complete(model, context, { apiKey: API_KEY });
+
+    // Debug: log full response if DEBUG is set
+    if (process.env.DEBUG) {
+      console.error(`DEBUG: Iteration ${iterations}`);
+      console.error("DEBUG: response =", JSON.stringify(response, null, 2));
+    }
+
     context.messages.push(response);
 
     // Check for tool calls
@@ -257,6 +274,16 @@ export async function processMessage(userMessage: string): Promise<string> {
       // No tool calls, extract text response
       const textBlocks = response.content.filter((b) => b.type === "text");
       const textContent = textBlocks.map((b) => (b as any).text).join("\n");
+
+      // Debug: log response structure if empty
+      if (!textContent && process.env.DEBUG) {
+        console.error("DEBUG: Empty text response");
+        console.error(
+          "DEBUG: response.content =",
+          JSON.stringify(response.content, null, 2),
+        );
+      }
+
       return (
         textContent ||
         "I couldn't generate a response. Please try rephrasing your question."
diff --git a/bot/src/test-assistant.ts b/bot/src/test-assistant.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c2712b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/src/test-assistant.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/**
+ * Test script for the Grimoire REQ Assistant
+ *
+ * Usage: npm run assistant "your question here"
+ */
+
+import { processMessage } from "./llm.js";
+
+async function main() {
+  const question = process.argv.slice(2).join(" ");
+
+  if (!question) {
+    console.error('Usage: npm run assistant "your question here"');
+    console.error("");
+    console.error("Examples:");
+    console.error(
+      '  npm run assistant "how do I see what my contacts are zapping"',
+    );
+    console.error('  npm run assistant "find all articles about bitcoin"');
+    console.error('  npm run assistant "what kind is used for reactions"');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  console.log("Question:", question);
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Processing...");
+  console.log("");
+
+  try {
+    const response = await processMessage(question);
+    console.log("Response:");
+    console.log("=========");
+    console.log(response);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error("Error:", error);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+main();