diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index c5ce581..fd5566f 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -123,10 +123,11 @@ Each non-empty line must use:
 ```env
 Key1=new:val
 Key2=update:val
-Key3=delete:val
+Key3=delete
 ```
 
-The action must be `new`, `update`, or `delete`. Keys must be unique within the file; duplicate keys fail the request before any write is attempted.
+The action must be `new`, `update`, or `delete`. `new` and `update` require a value after `:`;
+`delete` only needs the key name and action. Keys must be unique within the file; duplicate keys fail the request before any write is attempted.
 
 Supported request formats:
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileService.java b/src/main/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileService.java
index c2a2b16..8934ac7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileService.java
@@ -116,11 +116,13 @@ private EnvSecretOperation parseOperationLine(String line, int lineNumber) {
 
         String actionAndValue = line.substring(equalsIndex + 1);
         int colonIndex = actionAndValue.indexOf(':');
-        if (colonIndex < 0) {
+        if (colonIndex < 0 && actionAndValue.isBlank()) {
             throw invalidLine(lineNumber);
         }
 
-        String actionText = actionAndValue.substring(0, colonIndex).trim().toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT);
+        String actionText = colonIndex < 0
+                ? actionAndValue.trim().toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT)
+                : actionAndValue.substring(0, colonIndex).trim().toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT);
         EnvAction action = switch (actionText) {
             case "new" -> EnvAction.NEW;
             case "update" -> EnvAction.UPDATE;
@@ -129,13 +131,17 @@ private EnvSecretOperation parseOperationLine(String line, int lineNumber) {
                     + ": expected new, update, or delete");
         };
 
-        String value = actionAndValue.substring(colonIndex + 1);
+        if (colonIndex < 0 && action != EnvAction.DELETE) {
+            throw invalidLine(lineNumber);
+        }
+
+        String value = colonIndex < 0 ? "" : actionAndValue.substring(colonIndex + 1);
         return new EnvSecretOperation(key, action, value);
     }
 
     private IllegalArgumentException invalidLine(int lineNumber) {
         return new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid .env entry on line " + lineNumber
-                + ": expected KEY=action:value");
+                + ": expected KEY=new:value, KEY=update:value, or KEY=delete");
     }
 
     private void validateOperationPreconditions(String user, List<EnvSecretOperation> operations) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/controller/SecretControllerTest.java b/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/controller/SecretControllerTest.java
index 6df70fb..de7c9b1 100644
--- a/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/controller/SecretControllerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/controller/SecretControllerTest.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public void testPostSecret() throws Exception {
 
         @Test
         public void testPostEnvFileAsPlainText() throws Exception {
-                String envFile = "Key1=new:val\nKey2=update:other\nKey3=delete:ignored\n";
+                String envFile = "Key1=new:val\nKey2=update:other\nKey3=delete\n";
                 when(envFileService.execute(eq("user1"), eq(envFile)))
                                 .thenReturn(ResponseEntity.ok("processed"));
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileServiceTest.java b/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileServiceTest.java
index c95cc7e..78a3e88 100644
--- a/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileServiceTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/edu/yu/capstone/DistributedSecretsVault/service/secret/EnvFileServiceTest.java
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void testExecuteProcessesEnvFileOperations() {
         ResponseEntity<String> response = envFileService.execute("user1", """
                 Key1=new:val
                 Key2=update:next:with:colons
-                Key3=delete:ignored
+                Key3=delete
                 """);
 
         assertEquals(HttpStatus.OK, response.getStatusCode());
@@ -96,6 +96,16 @@ void testExecuteRejectsInvalidAction() {
         verifyNoInteractions(secretPartRepository, postSecretService, putSecretService, deleteSecretService);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void testExecuteRejectsNewWithoutValueDelimiter() {
+        IllegalArgumentException exception = assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class,
+                () -> envFileService.execute("user1", "Key1=new"));
+
+        assertEquals("Invalid .env entry on line 1: expected KEY=new:value, KEY=update:value, or KEY=delete",
+                exception.getMessage());
+        verifyNoInteractions(secretPartRepository, postSecretService, putSecretService, deleteSecretService);
+    }
+
     @Test
     void testExecuteRejectsExistingSecretForNewOperation() {
         when(secretPartRepository.exists(new SecretKey("user1", "Key1"))).thenReturn(true);