diff --git a/.github/workflows/react-native-cicd.yml b/.github/workflows/react-native-cicd.yml
index 5ec6ddf..ae6d0bb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/react-native-cicd.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/react-native-cicd.yml
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ env:
   EXPO_APPLE_TEAM_TYPE: ${{ secrets.EXPO_APPLE_TEAM_TYPE }}
   UNIT_APTABASE_APP_KEY: ${{ secrets.UNIT_APTABASE_APP_KEY }}
   UNIT_APTABASE_URL: ${{ secrets.UNIT_APTABASE_URL }}
+  UNIT_APP_KEY: ${{ secrets.UNIT_APP_KEY }}
+  APP_KEY: ${{ secrets.APP_KEY }}
   NODE_OPTIONS: --openssl-legacy-provider
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx b/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
index adfb570..caa611c 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
   const [isFirstTime, _setIsFirstTime] = useIsFirstTime();
   const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = React.useState(false);
   const [isNotificationsOpen, setIsNotificationsOpen] = React.useState(false);
+  const [isNotificationSystemReady, setIsNotificationSystemReady] = React.useState(false);
   const { width, height } = useWindowDimensions();
   const isLandscape = width > height;
   const { isActive, appState } = useAppLifecycle();
@@ -215,6 +216,20 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
   const activeUnitId = useCoreStore((state) => state.activeUnitId);
   const rights = securityStore((state) => state.rights);
 
+  // Manage notification system readiness
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const isReady = Boolean(activeUnitId && config && config.NovuApplicationId && config.NovuBackendApiUrl && config.NovuSocketUrl && rights?.DepartmentCode);
+
+    if (isReady && !isNotificationSystemReady) {
+      // Add a small delay to ensure the main UI is rendered first
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        setIsNotificationSystemReady(true);
+      }, 1000);
+    } else if (!isReady && isNotificationSystemReady) {
+      setIsNotificationSystemReady(false);
+    }
+  }, [activeUnitId, config, rights?.DepartmentCode, isNotificationSystemReady]);
+
   if (isFirstTime) {
     //setIsOnboarding();
     return <Redirect href="/onboarding" />;
@@ -338,7 +353,7 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
           </Tabs>
 
           {/* NotificationInbox positioned within the tab content area */}
-          {activeUnitId && config && rights?.DepartmentCode && <NotificationInbox isOpen={isNotificationsOpen} onClose={() => setIsNotificationsOpen(false)} />}
+          {isNotificationSystemReady && <NotificationInbox isOpen={isNotificationsOpen} onClose={() => setIsNotificationsOpen(false)} />}
         </View>
       </View>
     </View>
@@ -346,8 +361,8 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
 
   return (
     <>
-      {activeUnitId && config && rights?.DepartmentCode ? (
-        <NovuProvider subscriberId={`${rights?.DepartmentCode}_Unit_${activeUnitId}`} applicationIdentifier={config.NovuApplicationId} backendUrl={config.NovuBackendApiUrl} socketUrl={config.NovuSocketUrl}>
+      {isNotificationSystemReady ? (
+        <NovuProvider subscriberId={`${rights?.DepartmentCode}_Unit_${activeUnitId}`} applicationIdentifier={config!.NovuApplicationId} backendUrl={config!.NovuBackendApiUrl} socketUrl={config!.NovuSocketUrl}>
           {content}
         </NovuProvider>
       ) : (
@@ -394,11 +409,8 @@ const CreateNotificationButton = ({
     return null;
   }
 
-  return (
-    <NovuProvider subscriberId={`${departmentCode}_Unit_${activeUnitId}`} applicationIdentifier={config.NovuApplicationId} backendUrl={config.NovuBackendApiUrl} socketUrl={config.NovuSocketUrl}>
-      <NotificationButton onPress={() => setIsNotificationsOpen(true)} />
-    </NovuProvider>
-  );
+  // Only render after notification system is ready to prevent timing issues
+  return <NotificationButton onPress={() => setIsNotificationsOpen(true)} />;
 };
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
diff --git a/src/components/notifications/NotificationInbox.tsx b/src/components/notifications/NotificationInbox.tsx
index 615f532..3e35ce1 100644
--- a/src/components/notifications/NotificationInbox.tsx
+++ b/src/components/notifications/NotificationInbox.tsx
@@ -235,6 +235,11 @@ export const NotificationInbox = ({ isOpen, onClose }: NotificationInboxProps) =
     return null;
   }
 
+  // Additional safety check to prevent rendering overlay without proper config
+  if (!activeUnitId || !config || !config.NovuApplicationId || !config.NovuBackendApiUrl || !config.NovuSocketUrl) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
   return (
     <View style={StyleSheet.absoluteFill} pointerEvents={isOpen ? 'auto' : 'none'}>
       {/* Backdrop for tapping outside to close */}
diff --git a/src/components/notifications/__tests__/NotificationInbox.test.tsx b/src/components/notifications/__tests__/NotificationInbox.test.tsx
index b28e06d..60a1ddf 100644
--- a/src/components/notifications/__tests__/NotificationInbox.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/notifications/__tests__/NotificationInbox.test.tsx
@@ -89,7 +89,12 @@ describe('NotificationInbox', () => {
     mockUseCoreStore.mockImplementation((selector: any) => {
       const state = {
         activeUnitId: 'unit-1',
-        config: { apiUrl: 'test-url' },
+        config: {
+          apiUrl: 'test-url',
+          NovuApplicationId: 'test-app-id',
+          NovuBackendApiUrl: 'test-backend-url',
+          NovuSocketUrl: 'test-socket-url'
+        },
       };
       return selector(state);
     });
@@ -257,16 +262,18 @@ describe('NotificationInbox', () => {
     mockUseCoreStore.mockImplementation((selector: any) => {
       const state = {
         activeUnitId: null,
-        config: null,
+        config: { apiUrl: 'test-url' }, // Missing Novu config properties
       };
       return selector(state);
     });
 
-    const { getByText } = render(
+    const { queryByText } = render(
       <NotificationInbox isOpen={true} onClose={mockOnClose} />
     );
 
-    expect(getByText('Unable to load notifications')).toBeTruthy();
+    // Component should return null when required config is missing
+    expect(queryByText('Notifications')).toBeNull();
+    expect(queryByText('Unable to load notifications')).toBeNull();
   });
 
   it('opens notification detail on tap in normal mode', async () => {