diff --git a/contributors/emails/nawfal.fardana@dana.id b/contributors/emails/nawfal.fardana@dana.id
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b4d1f9637f2ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contributors/emails/nawfal.fardana@dana.id
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+arimu1
diff --git a/gateway/config.py b/gateway/config.py
index 07e57e2554202..01e8b6d89c757 100644
--- a/gateway/config.py
+++ b/gateway/config.py
@@ -789,6 +789,22 @@ class StreamingConfig:
 # platform is sufficiently configured to be considered "connected".  Platforms
 # that rely on the generic ``token or api_key`` check (Telegram, Discord,
 # Slack, Matrix, Mattermost, HomeAssistant) do not need an entry here.
+def _has_usable_api_server_key(key: object) -> bool:
+    """True when API_SERVER_KEY is present and strong enough to be usable.
+
+    Mirrors the startup guard in ``gateway/platforms/api_server.py``
+    (``has_usable_secret`` with ``min_length=16``) so the platform is only
+    enrolled at load time when the adapter would actually agree to start.
+    """
+    if not key:
+        return False
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.auth import has_usable_secret
+    except ImportError:
+        return len(str(key).strip()) >= 16
+    return has_usable_secret(key, min_length=16)
+
+
 _PLATFORM_CONNECTED_CHECKERS: dict[Platform, Callable[[PlatformConfig], bool]] = {
     Platform.WEIXIN: lambda cfg: bool(
         cfg.extra.get("account_id") and (cfg.token or cfg.extra.get("token"))
@@ -797,7 +813,9 @@ _PLATFORM_CONNECTED_CHECKERS: dict[Platform, Callable[[PlatformConfig], bool]] =
         cfg.extra.get("phone_number_id") and cfg.extra.get("access_token")
     ),
     Platform.SIGNAL: lambda cfg: bool(cfg.extra.get("http_url")),
-    Platform.API_SERVER: lambda cfg: True,
+    Platform.API_SERVER: lambda cfg: _has_usable_api_server_key(
+        cfg.extra.get("key") if cfg else None
+    ),
     Platform.WEBHOOK: lambda cfg: True,
     Platform.MSGRAPH_WEBHOOK: lambda cfg: bool(
         str(cfg.extra.get("client_state") or "").strip()
@@ -2026,7 +2044,12 @@ def _apply_env_overrides(config: GatewayConfig) -> None:
     api_server_cors_origins = getenv("API_SERVER_CORS_ORIGINS", "")
     api_server_port = getenv("API_SERVER_PORT")
     api_server_host = getenv("API_SERVER_HOST")
-    if api_server_enabled or api_server_key:
+    # Require a usable key: API_SERVER_ENABLED alone would load an
+    # unauthenticated platform whose adapter refuses to start at connect()
+    # anyway (startup guard in gateway/platforms/api_server.py), leaving the
+    # reconnect watcher spinning and logging errors forever. Same strength
+    # bar as the startup guard (has_usable_secret, min_length=16).
+    if _has_usable_api_server_key(api_server_key):
         if Platform.API_SERVER not in config.platforms:
             config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER] = PlatformConfig()
         # Respect an explicit ``enabled: false`` in config.yaml (flagged by
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_api_server.py b/tests/gateway/test_api_server.py
index 9a59819235533..3cea1d7df8595 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_api_server.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_api_server.py
@@ -3097,20 +3097,35 @@ class TestConfigIntegration:
 
     def test_env_override_enables_api_server(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_ENABLED", "true")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "opensslrandhex32strongkey")
         from gateway.config import load_gateway_config
         config = load_gateway_config()
         assert Platform.API_SERVER in config.platforms
         assert config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER].enabled is True
 
+    def test_env_override_enabled_without_key_does_not_load(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_ENABLED", "true")
+        from gateway.config import load_gateway_config
+        config = load_gateway_config()
+        assert Platform.API_SERVER not in config.platforms
+
+    def test_env_override_enabled_with_weak_key_does_not_load(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_ENABLED", "true")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "abcd")
+        from gateway.config import load_gateway_config
+        config = load_gateway_config()
+        assert Platform.API_SERVER not in config.platforms
+
     def test_env_override_with_key(self, monkeypatch):
-        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "sk-mykey")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "opensslrandhex32strongkey")
         from gateway.config import load_gateway_config
         config = load_gateway_config()
         assert Platform.API_SERVER in config.platforms
-        assert config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER].extra.get("key") == "sk-mykey"
+        assert config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER].extra.get("key") == "opensslrandhex32strongkey"
 
     def test_env_override_port_and_host(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_ENABLED", "true")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "opensslrandhex32strongkey")
         monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_PORT", "9999")
         monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_HOST", "0.0.0.0")
         from gateway.config import load_gateway_config
@@ -3120,6 +3135,7 @@ class TestConfigIntegration:
 
     def test_env_override_cors_origins(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_ENABLED", "true")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("API_SERVER_KEY", "opensslrandhex32strongkey")
         monkeypatch.setenv(
             "API_SERVER_CORS_ORIGINS",
             "http://localhost:3000, http://127.0.0.1:3000",
@@ -3133,7 +3149,9 @@ class TestConfigIntegration:
 
     def test_api_server_in_connected_platforms(self):
         config = GatewayConfig()
-        config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER] = PlatformConfig(enabled=True)
+        config.platforms[Platform.API_SERVER] = PlatformConfig(
+            enabled=True, extra={"key": "opensslrandhex32strongkey"}
+        )
         connected = config.get_connected_platforms()
         assert Platform.API_SERVER in connected
 
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_platform_connected_checkers.py b/tests/gateway/test_platform_connected_checkers.py
index 35cca649bb871..8112de6bb9425 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_platform_connected_checkers.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_platform_connected_checkers.py
@@ -98,8 +98,9 @@ def test_checker_returns_true_when_configured(platform, checker, monkeypatch):
     elif platform == Platform.SMS:
         monkeypatch.setenv("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID", "ACtest")
         mock_config.extra = {}
+    elif platform == Platform.API_SERVER:
+        mock_config.extra = {"key": "opensslrandhex32strongkey"}
     elif platform in {
-        Platform.API_SERVER,
         Platform.WEBHOOK,
         Platform.WHATSAPP,
     }:
@@ -127,3 +128,26 @@ def test_checker_returns_true_when_configured(platform, checker, monkeypatch):
 
     result = checker(mock_config)
     assert result is True, f"{platform.value} checker should return True with valid-looking config"
+
+
+def test_api_server_checker_key_validity():
+    """API_SERVER checker: missing, placeholder, short, and strong keys."""
+    checker = _PLATFORM_CONNECTED_CHECKERS[Platform.API_SERVER]
+
+    cfg = MagicMock()
+
+    # Missing
+    cfg.extra = {}
+    assert checker(cfg) is False
+
+    # Placeholder
+    cfg.extra = {"key": "changeme"}
+    assert checker(cfg) is False
+
+    # Too short (<16 chars)
+    cfg.extra = {"key": "shortkey"}
+    assert checker(cfg) is False
+
+    # Strong key (>=16 chars, not a placeholder)
+    cfg.extra = {"key": "opensslrandhex32strongkey"}
+    assert checker(cfg) is True