diff --git a/packages/db/src/utils/get-embedding.ts b/packages/db/src/utils/get-embedding.ts
index 282085ef..5595b392 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/utils/get-embedding.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/utils/get-embedding.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,14 @@ import OpenAI from 'openai';
 
 const OPENAI_API_KEY = process.env.OPENAI_EMBEDDINGS_KEY;
 
+if (!OPENAI_API_KEY) {
+  throw new Error(
+    'Missing OPENAI_EMBEDDINGS_KEY. Set it in apps/site/.env.local for local development and in Vercel environment variables for deployed environments.'
+  );
+}
+
 const openai = new OpenAI({
-  apiKey: OPENAI_API_KEY ?? 'NOTAKEY',
+  apiKey: OPENAI_API_KEY,
 });
 
 export async function getEmbedding(text: string): Promise<number[]> {