diff --git a/src/app/bootstrap.ts b/src/app/bootstrap.ts
index 01cfe6f..713377d 100644
--- a/src/app/bootstrap.ts
+++ b/src/app/bootstrap.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ import { createGracefulShutdown } from "./shutdown.js";
 export async function initializeApp() {
   const logger = createChildLogger("bot");
 
+  if (!config.AI_LLM_API_KEY) {
+    logger.error("AI_LLM_API_KEY is missing from environment. Force closing application as AI environment is required.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
   const token = config.DISCORD_TOKEN;
   logger.info(
     { hasToken: token.length > 0, tokenLength: token.length },
diff --git a/src/moderation/aiAnalysisWorker.ts b/src/moderation/aiAnalysisWorker.ts
index 3e83561..4de4843 100644
--- a/src/moderation/aiAnalysisWorker.ts
+++ b/src/moderation/aiAnalysisWorker.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@ export default async function processAnalysisRequest({
   conversationKey,
   messages,
 }: AnalysisWorkerRequest): Promise<AnalysisWorkerResponse> {
+  if (!config.AI_LLM_API_KEY) {
+    console.error(JSON.stringify({
+      level: "FATAL",
+      context: "aiAnalysisWorker",
+      error: "AI_LLM_API_KEY is missing from environment. Force closing worker operation.",
+      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+    }));
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
   try {
     try {
       await ensureDb();