diff --git a/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/controllers/peer.py b/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/controllers/peer.py
index 9f2de3a3..2212a873 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/controllers/peer.py
+++ b/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/controllers/peer.py
@@ -1049,15 +1049,38 @@ def _llm_enabled():
     return bool(_get_course_openai_key())
 
 #fetch the course-wide openai API key used to enable LLM-based async peer discussion (only works for openai currently)
+# def _get_course_openai_key():
+#     try:
+#         token_record = asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
+#             fetch_api_token(course_id=auth.user.course_id, provider="openai")
+#         )
+#         if token_record and token_record.token:
+#             return token_record.token.strip()
+#     except Exception:
+#         logger.exception("Failed to fetch course-wide OpenAI token for peer LLM")
+#     return ""
 def _get_course_openai_key():
     try:
+        course = db(
+            db.courses.course_name == auth.user.course_name
+        ).select().first()
+
+        if not course:
+            logger.warning("PEER LLM: no course row found")
+            return ""
+        logger.warning(f"PEER LLM course_name={auth.user.course_name}")
+        logger.warning(f"PEER LLM auth.user.course_id={auth.user.course_id}")
+        logger.warning(f"PEER LLM resolved course.id={course.id if course else None}")
         token_record = asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
-            fetch_api_token(course_id=auth.user.course_id, provider="openai")
+            fetch_api_token(course_id=course.id, provider="openai")
         )
+
         if token_record and token_record.token:
             return token_record.token.strip()
+
     except Exception:
         logger.exception("Failed to fetch course-wide OpenAI token for peer LLM")
+
     return ""
 
 
@@ -1088,4 +1111,4 @@ def _call_openai(messages):
     logger.warning(f"PEER LLM CALL | provider=openai-course-token | model={model}")
     resp.raise_for_status()
     data = resp.json()
-    return data["choices"][0]["message"]["content"].strip()
+    return data["choices"][0]["message"]["content"].strip()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/static/js/peer.js b/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/static/js/peer.js
index 6bb3872e..4d7a5153 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/static/js/peer.js
+++ b/bases/rsptx/web2py_server/applications/runestone/static/js/peer.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Configuration for the PI steps and helper functions to handle step progression in the instructor's interface
+console.log("PEER JS VERSION TEST 12345");
 const STEP_CONFIG = {
     vote1: {
         next: ['makep', 'facechat', 'makeabgroups'],
@@ -485,15 +486,17 @@ async function sendMessage(event) {
     input.value = "";
     input.focus();
 
-    // Disable the send button after sending a message
-    sendButton.classList.add("disabled");
-    llmMessageCount += 1;
-    console.log("LLM message count:", llmMessageCount);
+    // Only apply LLM restrictions in async mode
+    if (window.PI_LLM_MODE === true) {
+        sendButton.classList.add("disabled");
+        llmMessageCount += 1;
+        console.log("LLM message count:", llmMessageCount);
 
-    if (llmMessageCount >= REQUIRED_LLM_MESSAGES) {
-        const btn = document.getElementById("readyVote2Btn");
-        if (btn) {
-            btn.style.display = "inline-block";
+        if (llmMessageCount >= REQUIRED_LLM_MESSAGES) {
+            const btn = document.getElementById("readyVote2Btn");
+            if (btn) {
+                btn.style.display = "inline-block";
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -857,6 +860,11 @@ function insertReadyVote2Button() {
 
     if (!container) return;
 
+    const btn = document.createElement("button");
+    btn.id = "readyVote2Btn";
+    btn.className = "btn btn-info";
+    btn.style.display = "none";
+    btn.innerText = "Ready for Vote 2";
 
     btn.addEventListener("click", enableSecondVoteAsync);
 
@@ -868,11 +876,16 @@ $(function () {
 
     let tinput = document.getElementById("messageText");
     let sendButton = document.getElementById("sendpeermsg");
-    if (tinput && sendButton) {
+    if (window.PI_LLM_MODE !== true && sendButton) {
+        sendButton.classList.remove("disabled");
+    }
+
+    if (tinput && sendButton && window.PI_LLM_MODE === true) {
         tinput.addEventListener("input", function () {
             let message = this.value.trim();
-            if (message !== "") {
+            if (window.PI_LLM_MODE !== true && sendButton) {
                 sendButton.classList.remove("disabled");
+                sendButton.disabled = false;
             } else {
                 sendButton.classList.add("disabled");
             }
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index da752afc..41161440 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ services:
       - DBURL=${DC_DBURL:-$DBURL}?ssl=disable
       - LOAD_BALANCER_HOST=${LOAD_BALANCER_HOST}
       - JWT_SECRET=${JWT_SECRET}
+      - FERNET_SECRET=${FERNET_SECRET}
       - WEB2PY_PRIVATE_KEY=${WEB2PY_PRIVATE_KEY}
       - ACADEMY_MODE=True
       - USE_MASTER_AUTHOR=${USE_MASTER_AUTHOR:-False}