diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 982e6c1f7..540e73395 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -234,6 +234,6 @@ else:
     STATIC_FULL_URL = f"{PROTOCOL}://{DOMAIN}{STATIC_URL}"
     MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, env("MEDIA_ROOT", "images"))
 
-OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT = env("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT")
-OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS = env("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS")
-OTEL_SERVICE_NAME = env("OTEL_SERVICE_NAME")
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT = env("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT", None)
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS = env("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS", None)
+OTEL_SERVICE_NAME = env("OTEL_SERVICE_NAME", None)