diff --git a/apps/agents/src/app/main.py b/apps/agents/src/app/main.py
index d1cde1ad..cd784367 100644
--- a/apps/agents/src/app/main.py
+++ b/apps/agents/src/app/main.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def require_api_key(f):
             return jsonify({'error': 'Missing or invalid authorization header'}), 401
 
         token = auth_header.split('Bearer ')[1]
-        if token != os.environ.get('API_KEY'):
+        if token != os.environ.get('API_KEY', 'test'):
             return jsonify({'error': 'Invalid API key'}), 403
 
         return f(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/apps/copilot/app.py b/apps/copilot/app.py
index 180de34c..5be23c48 100644
--- a/apps/copilot/app.py
+++ b/apps/copilot/app.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def require_api_key(f):
             return jsonify({'error': 'Missing or invalid authorization header'}), 401
 
         token = auth_header.split('Bearer ')[1]
-        if token != os.environ.get('API_KEY'):
+        if token != os.environ.get('API_KEY', 'test'):
             return jsonify({'error': 'Invalid API key'}), 403
 
         return f(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/actions.ts b/apps/rowboat/app/actions.ts
index ce6be36c..3768d095 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/actions.ts
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/actions.ts
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ export async function getCopilotResponse(
         body: JSON.stringify(request),
         headers: {
             'Content-Type': 'application/json',
-            'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.COPILOT_API_KEY}`,
+            'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.COPILOT_API_KEY || 'test'}`,
         },
     });
     if (!response.ok) {
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/lib/utils.ts b/apps/rowboat/app/lib/utils.ts
index a146aad1..27b2c2d8 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/lib/utils.ts
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ export async function getAgenticApiResponse(
         body: JSON.stringify(request),
         headers: {
             'Content-Type': 'application/json',
-            'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.AGENTS_API_KEY}`,
+            'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.AGENTS_API_KEY || 'test'}`,
         },
     });
     if (!response.ok) {