diff --git a/codeflash/api/cfapi.py b/codeflash/api/cfapi.py
index 6bf0448c3..a27e85bff 100644
--- a/codeflash/api/cfapi.py
+++ b/codeflash/api/cfapi.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def get_user_id(api_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[str]:
 
     :return: The userid or None if the request fails.
     """
-    if not ensure_codeflash_api_key():
+    if not api_key and not ensure_codeflash_api_key():
         return None
 
     response = make_cfapi_request(
diff --git a/codeflash/lsp/beta.py b/codeflash/lsp/beta.py
index 67b4bacd2..c54ceaafd 100644
--- a/codeflash/lsp/beta.py
+++ b/codeflash/lsp/beta.py
@@ -263,6 +263,15 @@ def init_project(server: CodeflashLanguageServer, params: ValidateProjectParams)
 def _initialize_optimizer_if_api_key_is_valid(
     server: CodeflashLanguageServer, api_key: Optional[str] = None
 ) -> dict[str, str]:
+    key_check_result = _check_api_key_validity(api_key)
+    if key_check_result.get("status") != "success":
+        return key_check_result
+
+    _initialize_optimizer(server)
+    return key_check_result
+
+
+def _check_api_key_validity(api_key: Optional[str]) -> dict[str, str]:
     user_id = get_user_id(api_key=api_key)
     if user_id is None:
         return {"status": "error", "message": "api key not found or invalid"}
@@ -271,11 +280,15 @@ def _initialize_optimizer_if_api_key_is_valid(
         error_msg = user_id[7:]
         return {"status": "error", "message": error_msg}
 
+    return {"status": "success", "user_id": user_id}
+
+
+def _initialize_optimizer(server: CodeflashLanguageServer) -> None:
     from codeflash.optimization.optimizer import Optimizer
 
     new_args = process_args(server)
-    server.optimizer = Optimizer(new_args)
-    return {"status": "success", "user_id": user_id}
+    if not server.optimizer:
+        server.optimizer = Optimizer(new_args)
 
 
 def process_args(server: CodeflashLanguageServer) -> Namespace:
@@ -302,16 +315,16 @@ def provide_api_key(server: CodeflashLanguageServer, params: ProvideApiKeyParams
         if not api_key.startswith("cf-"):
             return {"status": "error", "message": "Api key is not valid"}
 
-        # clear cache to ensure the new api key is used
+        # # clear cache to ensure the new api key is used
         get_codeflash_api_key.cache_clear()
         get_user_id.cache_clear()
-
-        init_result = _initialize_optimizer_if_api_key_is_valid(server, api_key)
-        if init_result["status"] == "error":
-            return {"status": "error", "message": "Api key is not valid"}
-
-        user_id = init_result["user_id"]
+        key_check_result = _check_api_key_validity(api_key)
+        if key_check_result.get("status") != "success":
+            return key_check_result
+        user_id = key_check_result["user_id"]
         result = save_api_key_to_rc(api_key)
+        # initialize optimizer with the new api key
+        _initialize_optimizer(server)
         if not is_successful(result):
             return {"status": "error", "message": result.failure()}
         return {"status": "success", "message": "Api key saved successfully", "user_id": user_id}  # noqa: TRY300