diff --git a/safetytooling/apis/inference/gray_swan.py b/safetytooling/apis/inference/gray_swan.py
index 2ddb99e..2d2e18a 100644
--- a/safetytooling/apis/inference/gray_swan.py
+++ b/safetytooling/apis/inference/gray_swan.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         self.num_threads = num_threads
         self.prompt_history_dir = prompt_history_dir
-        if api_key is not None:
+        # Use truthy check so empty string (from blank .env line) is treated as unset
+        if api_key:
             try:
                 self.aclient = AsyncGraySwan(api_key=api_key)
             except TypeError as e:
diff --git a/safetytooling/apis/inference/together.py b/safetytooling/apis/inference/together.py
index 7a06141..1b94cd9 100644
--- a/safetytooling/apis/inference/together.py
+++ b/safetytooling/apis/inference/together.py
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         self.num_threads = num_threads
         self.prompt_history_dir = prompt_history_dir
-        if api_key is not None:
+        # Use truthy check so empty string (from blank .env line) is treated as unset
+        if api_key:
             self.aclient = AsyncTogether(api_key=api_key)
         else:
             self.aclient = None