diff --git a/nodes/utils/openai_utils.py b/nodes/utils/openai_utils.py
index 513328e..8dfff3f 100644
--- a/nodes/utils/openai_utils.py
+++ b/nodes/utils/openai_utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from openai import OpenAI
 from openai.types import AudioModel, ChatModel, EmbeddingModel, ImageModel
 from openai.types.audio.speech_model import SpeechModel
 
+from ...py.griptape_settings import GriptapeSettings
+
 # Define the valid model types as a Literal
 ModelTypes = Literal[
     "ChatModel", "AudioModel", "ImageModel", "EmbeddingModel", "SpeechModel"
@@ -28,6 +30,10 @@ def get_available_models(model_type: ModelTypes) -> list:
         "SpeechModel": SpeechModel,
     }
 
+    settings = GriptapeSettings()
+    api_key = settings.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
+    if api_key is None:
+        return []
     client = OpenAI()
     available_models = client.models.list().data
 
diff --git a/py/griptape_settings.py b/py/griptape_settings.py
index a918f68..26286df 100644
--- a/py/griptape_settings.py
+++ b/py/griptape_settings.py
@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ class GriptapeSettings:
                 self.save_settings()
 
         if not api_key:
-            raise ValueError(f"Environment variable {env} is not set")
+            print(f"   \033[34m- \033[92m[WARNING]: {env} is not set\033[0m\n")
+            return None
+            # raise ValueError(f"Environment variable {env} is not set")
         return api_key
 
     def get_all_services(self):