diff --git a/run-recipe.py b/run-recipe.py
index 2d72331..395f185 100755
--- a/run-recipe.py
+++ b/run-recipe.py
@@ -819,6 +819,7 @@ Examples:
     launch_group.add_argument("-d", "--daemon", action="store_true", help="Run in daemon mode")
     launch_group.add_argument("-t", "--container", dest="container_override", help="Override container image from recipe")
     launch_group.add_argument("--nccl-debug", choices=["VERSION", "WARN", "INFO", "TRACE"], help="NCCL debug level")
+    launch_group.add_argument("-e", "--env", action="append", dest="env_vars", default=[], metavar="VAR=VALUE", help="Environment variable to pass to container (e.g. -e HF_TOKEN=xxx). Can be used multiple times.")
     
     # Cluster discovery options
     discover_group = parser.add_argument_group("Cluster discovery")
@@ -1119,6 +1120,8 @@ Examples:
             cmd_parts.extend(["-n", ",".join(nodes)])
         if args.nccl_debug:
             cmd_parts.extend(["--nccl-debug", args.nccl_debug])
+        for env_var in args.env_vars:
+            cmd_parts.extend(["-e", env_var])
         cmd_parts.extend(["\\", "\n      --launch-script", "/tmp/tmpXXXXXX.sh"])
         print(" ".join(cmd_parts))
         print()
@@ -1160,6 +1163,9 @@ Examples:
         if args.nccl_debug:
             cmd.extend(["--nccl-debug", args.nccl_debug])
         
+        for env_var in args.env_vars:
+            cmd.extend(["-e", env_var])
+        
         # Add launch script
         cmd.extend(["--launch-script", temp_script])
         
diff --git a/tests/test_recipes.sh b/tests/test_recipes.sh
index 2bcfb8d..9fda3db 100755
--- a/tests/test_recipes.sh
+++ b/tests/test_recipes.sh
@@ -728,6 +728,48 @@ test_launch_cmd_no_solo_in_cluster() {
     fi
 }
 
+# Test: -e / --env passthrough to launch-cluster.sh
+test_launch_cmd_env_passthrough() {
+    log_test "Launch command includes -e env vars"
+    
+    recipe_name=$(find_solo_recipe)
+    if [[ -z "$recipe_name" ]]; then
+        log_skip "No solo-capable recipes found"
+        return
+    fi
+    
+    output=$("$PROJECT_DIR/run-recipe.py" "$recipe_name" --dry-run --solo -e HF_TOKEN=test123 -e MY_VAR=hello 2>&1)
+    launch_cmd=$(extract_launch_cmd "$output")
+    
+    if echo "$launch_cmd" | grep -q "\-e HF_TOKEN=test123" && echo "$launch_cmd" | grep -q "\-e MY_VAR=hello"; then
+        log_pass "Launch command includes -e env vars"
+    else
+        log_fail "-e env vars not found in launch command"
+        log_verbose "Launch cmd: $launch_cmd"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Test: no -e flags when none specified
+test_launch_cmd_no_env_by_default() {
+    log_test "Launch command omits -e when no env vars specified"
+    
+    recipe_name=$(find_solo_recipe)
+    if [[ -z "$recipe_name" ]]; then
+        log_skip "No solo-capable recipes found"
+        return
+    fi
+    
+    output=$("$PROJECT_DIR/run-recipe.py" "$recipe_name" --dry-run --solo 2>&1)
+    launch_cmd=$(extract_launch_cmd "$output")
+    
+    if echo "$launch_cmd" | grep -q " -e "; then
+        log_fail "Unexpected -e flag in launch command"
+        log_verbose "Launch cmd: $launch_cmd"
+    else
+        log_pass "Launch command correctly omits -e when none specified"
+    fi
+}
+
 # ==============================================================================
 # README Documentation Verification Tests
 # ==============================================================================
@@ -1203,6 +1245,8 @@ main() {
     test_launch_cmd_launch_script
     test_launch_cmd_container_override
     test_launch_cmd_no_solo_in_cluster
+    test_launch_cmd_env_passthrough
+    test_launch_cmd_no_env_by_default
     echo ""
     
     # README documentation verification tests