diff --git a/lotus/models/openai_model.py b/lotus/models/openai_model.py
index a828ca2b..1910f357 100644
--- a/lotus/models/openai_model.py
+++ b/lotus/models/openai_model.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def __init__(
             **kwargs,
         }
 
-        self.client = OpenAI(api_key=api_key, base_url=api_base)
+        self.client = OpenAI(api_key=api_key if api_key else "None", base_url=api_base)
 
         # TODO: Refactor this
         if self.provider == "openai":