diff --git a/strix/interface/main.py b/strix/interface/main.py
index 6c244cf..7f8370c 100644
--- a/strix/interface/main.py
+++ b/strix/interface/main.py
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ async def warm_up_llm() -> None:
         api_key = os.getenv("LLM_API_KEY")
 
         if api_key:
+            os.environ.setdefault("LITELLM_API_KEY", api_key)
             litellm.api_key = api_key
 
         api_base = (
diff --git a/strix/llm/llm.py b/strix/llm/llm.py
index 99a566a..98103b2 100644
--- a/strix/llm/llm.py
+++ b/strix/llm/llm.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 api_key = os.getenv("LLM_API_KEY")
 if api_key:
+    os.environ.setdefault("LITELLM_API_KEY", api_key)
     litellm.api_key = api_key
 
 api_base = (