diff --git a/src/models/Config.tsx b/src/models/Config.tsx
index ad9911b..2f5f2eb 100644
--- a/src/models/Config.tsx
+++ b/src/models/Config.tsx
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ export class Config {
 
   /**
    * Updates the template JSON by adding/updating params from the given environment.
-   * Params are added as "paramName": "paramValue" pairs.
-   * Existing params in template are preserved if not in the env.
+   * Params are added as "!!! paramName": "@paramName@" placeholder pairs.
+   * Existing template content is preserved.
    */
   updateTemplateFromEnv(env: Env) {
     let templateObj: Record<string, any> = {};
@@ -78,10 +78,12 @@ export class Config {
       console.warn("Template is not valid JSON, starting fresh");
     }
 
-    // Add/update params from the environment
+    // Add/update params from the environment as placeholders
     for (const param of env.params) {
       if (param.name && param.name.trim() !== "") {
-        templateObj[param.name] = param.value ?? "";
+        const placeholderKey = `!!! ${param.name}`;
+        const placeholderValue = `@${param.name}@`;
+        templateObj[placeholderKey] = placeholderValue;
       }
     }