diff --git a/pkg/client/interfaces/options.go b/pkg/client/interfaces/options.go
index ab6f762d..6d9e5c45 100644
--- a/pkg/client/interfaces/options.go
+++ b/pkg/client/interfaces/options.go
@@ -17,10 +17,6 @@ func (o *ClientOptions) Parse() error {
 		klog.V(3).Infof("DEEPGRAM_API_KEY found")
 		o.ApiKey = v
 	}
-	if !o.OnPrem && o.ApiKey == "" {
-		klog.V(1).Infof("DEEPGRAM_API_KEY not set")
-		return ErrNoApiKey
-	}
 	if v := os.Getenv("DEEPGRAM_HOST"); v != "" {
 		klog.V(3).Infof("DEEPGRAM_HOST found")
 		o.Host = v
@@ -38,6 +34,12 @@ func (o *ClientOptions) Parse() error {
 		o.OnPrem = strings.EqualFold(strings.ToLower(v), "true")
 	}
 
+	// checks
+	if !o.OnPrem && o.ApiKey == "" {
+		klog.V(1).Infof("DEEPGRAM_API_KEY not set")
+		return ErrNoApiKey
+	}
+
 	// shared
 	if v := os.Getenv("DEEPGRAM_WEBSOCKET_SKIP_AUTH"); v != "" {
 		klog.V(3).Infof("DEEPGRAM_WEBSOCKET_SKIP_AUTH found")