diff --git a/contentctl/objects/config.py b/contentctl/objects/config.py
index 9057a4c4..7c9afb52 100644
--- a/contentctl/objects/config.py
+++ b/contentctl/objects/config.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class App_Base(BaseModel,ABC):
     
 
     def getSplunkbasePath(self)->HttpUrl:
-        return HttpUrl(SPLUNKBASE_URL.format(uid=self.uid, release=self.version))
+        return HttpUrl(SPLUNKBASE_URL.format(uid=self.uid, version=self.version))
 
     @abstractmethod
     def getApp(self, config:test, stage_file:bool=False)->str:
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class TestApp(App_Base):
     hardcoded_path: Optional[Union[FilePath,HttpUrl]] = Field(default=None, description="This may be a relative or absolute link to a file OR an HTTP URL linking to your app.")
     
 
-    @field_serializer('hardcoded_path',when_used='always')
+    @field_serializer('hardcoded_path',when_used='unless-none')
     def serialize_path(path: Union[AnyUrl, pathlib.Path])->str:
         return str(path)
 
@@ -830,10 +830,18 @@ class test(test_common):
     model_config = ConfigDict(use_enum_values=True,validate_default=True, arbitrary_types_allowed=True)
     container_settings:ContainerSettings = ContainerSettings()
     test_instances: List[Container] = Field([], exclude = True, validate_default=True)
-    splunk_api_username: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, exclude = True,description="Splunk API username used for running appinspect or installating apps from Splunkbase")
-    splunk_api_password: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, exclude = True, description="Splunk API password used for running appinspect or installaing apps from Splunkbase")
     
     
+    splunk_api_username: None | str = Field(default=None, exclude = True,description="Splunk API username used for running appinspect or installating apps from Splunkbase. Can be replaced by the 'SPLUNKBASE_USERNAME' environment variable.")
+    splunk_api_password: None | str = Field(default=None, exclude = True, description="Splunk API password used for running appinspect or installaing apps from Splunkbase. Can be replaced by the 'SPLUNKBASE_PASSWORD' environment variable.")
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any):
+        if "SPLUNKBASE_USERNAME" in environ:
+            kwargs['splunk_api_username'] = environ["SPLUNKBASE_USERNAME"]
+        if "SPLUNKBASE_PASSWORD" in environ:
+            kwargs['splunk_api_password'] = environ["SPLUNKBASE_PASSWORD"]
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+
     def getContainerInfrastructureObjects(self)->Self:
         try:
             self.test_instances = self.container_settings.getContainers()