diff --git a/leaderboard/leaderboard.py b/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
index 96ad090..f0b701d 100644
--- a/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
+++ b/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
@@ -89,6 +89,20 @@ class Leaderboard(commands.Cog):
         
         self.config.register_guild(**default_guild)
 
+    async def initialize(self):
+        """Initialize optional API connection."""
+        try:
+            self.admin_secret = await self.bot.get_shared_api_tokens("ruby_api")
+            if self.admin_secret.get("admin_secret"):
+                self.session = aiohttp.ClientSession()
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.error(f"Failed to initialize API connection: {e}")
+        # Don't return anything - initialization is optional
+
+    async def cog_load(self):
+        """Initialize the cog when it's loaded."""
+        await self.initialize()
+
     async def get_user_credits(self, user: discord.Member) -> int:
         """Get a user's total credits from Red's bank system."""
         try: