diff --git a/lib/snmpkit/snmp_lib/config.ex b/lib/snmpkit/snmp_lib/config.ex
index 5039b018..e4f947b3 100644
--- a/lib/snmpkit/snmp_lib/config.ex
+++ b/lib/snmpkit/snmp_lib/config.ex
@@ -441,6 +441,9 @@ defmodule SnmpKit.SnmpLib.Config do
 
   ## Private Implementation
 
+  # Capture Mix.env() at compile time since Mix is not available in releases
+  @compile_env if Code.ensure_loaded?(Mix), do: Mix.env(), else: :prod
+
   # Environment detection with multiple fallbacks
   defp detect_environment(opts) do
     cond do
@@ -448,8 +451,7 @@ defmodule SnmpKit.SnmpLib.Config do
       env = System.get_env("MIX_ENV") -> String.to_atom(env)
       env = System.get_env("SNMP_LIB_ENV") -> String.to_atom(env)
       env = Application.get_env(:snmp_lib, :environment) -> env
-      Code.ensure_loaded?(Mix) -> Mix.env()
-      true -> :dev
+      true -> @compile_env
     end
   end