diff --git a/src/lib/database.js b/src/lib/database.js
index 1254f65..31f76af 100644
--- a/src/lib/database.js
+++ b/src/lib/database.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { prerendering } from "$app/environment";
 import { randomBytes, randomUUID } from "crypto";
 import { INVITE_KEY_PREFIX, SESSION_EXPIRE } from "$lib/constants";
 
-if (!process.env.MONGO_URL) throw new Error("Missing MONGO_URL env variable!");
+if (process.env.PRODUCTION && !process.env.MONGO_URL) throw new Error("Missing MONGO_URL env variable!");
 
 const client = new MongoClient(process.env.MONGO_URL);
 if (!prerendering) await client.connect();