diff --git a/src/subsai/models/whisper_api_model.py b/src/subsai/models/whisper_api_model.py
index 079ca9d..877af7e 100644
--- a/src/subsai/models/whisper_api_model.py
+++ b/src/subsai/models/whisper_api_model.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class WhisperAPIModel(AbstractModel):
                 'type': str,
                 'description': "Your OpenAI API key",
                 'options': None,
-                'default': None
+                'default': os.environ.get('OPENAI_KEY', None)
             },
             'language': {
                 'type': str,