diff --git a/agent/llama_guard.py b/agent/llama_guard.py
index 40b44a3..3c1523a 100644
--- a/agent/llama_guard.py
+++ b/agent/llama_guard.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 from langchain_core.messages import AnyMessage, HumanMessage, AIMessage
 from langchain_core.prompts import PromptTemplate
 from langchain_groq import ChatGroq
@@ -75,10 +76,16 @@ def parse_llama_guard_output(output: str) -> LlamaGuardOutput:
 
 class LlamaGuard:
     def __init__(self):
+        if os.getenv("GROQ_API_KEY") is None:
+            print("GROQ_API_KEY not set, skipping LlamaGuard")
+            self.model = None
+            return
         self.model = ChatGroq(model="llama-guard-3-8b", temperature=0.0)
         self.prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template(llama_guard_instructions)
 
     async def ainvoke(self, role: str, messages: List[AnyMessage]) -> LlamaGuardOutput:
+        if self.model is None:
+            return LlamaGuardOutput(safety_assessment=SafetyAssessment.SAFE)
         role_mapping = {"ai": "Agent", "human": "User"}
         messages_str = [
             f"{role_mapping[m.type]}: {m.content}" for m in messages if m.type in ["ai", "human"]