diff --git a/reana_commons/api_client.py b/reana_commons/api_client.py
index 5c317b66..eae7590d 100644
--- a/reana_commons/api_client.py
+++ b/reana_commons/api_client.py
@@ -3,22 +3,8 @@
 # This file is part of REANA.
 # Copyright (C) 2018 CERN.
 #
-# REANA is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
-# terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
-# Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
-# version.
-#
-# REANA is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
-# WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
-# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
-#
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
-# REANA; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place,
-# Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
-#
-# In applying this license, CERN does not waive the privileges and immunities
-# granted to it by virtue of its status as an Intergovernmental Organization or
-# submit itself to any jurisdiction.
+# REANA is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+# under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for more details.
 """REANA REST API base client."""
 
 import json
@@ -30,6 +16,7 @@
                                HTTPNotFound)
 
 from reana_commons.config import OPENAPI_SPECS
+from reana_commons.errors import REANAServerNotSet
 
 
 class BaseAPIClient(object):
@@ -37,15 +24,26 @@ class BaseAPIClient(object):
 
     def __init__(self, service, http_client=None):
         """Create an OpenAPI client."""
+        self._load_config_from_env()
         server_url, spec_file = OPENAPI_SPECS[service]
         json_spec = self._get_spec(spec_file)
         self._client = SwaggerClient.from_spec(
             json_spec,
             http_client=http_client,
             config={'also_return_response': True})
+        if server_url is None:
+            raise REANAServerNotSet(
+                'REANA_SERVER_URL variable is not set'
+                'REANA client is not connected to any REANA cluster.'
+            )
         self._client.swagger_spec.api_url = server_url
         self.server_url = server_url
 
+    def _load_config_from_env(self):
+        """."""
+        OPENAPI_SPECS['reana-server'] = (os.getenv('REANA_SERVER_URL'),
+                                         'reana_server.json')
+
     def _get_spec(self, spec_file):
         """Get json specification from package data."""
         spec_file_path = os.path.join(
@@ -132,3 +130,10 @@ def check_if_cached(self, job_spec, step, workflow_workspace):
             raise HTTPInternalServerError('Internal Server Error. Error: {}'.
                                           format(http_response.data))
         return http_response
+
+
+def get_current_api_client(component):
+    """Return current state of the search extension."""
+    rwc_api_client = BaseAPIClient(component)
+
+    return rwc_api_client._client
diff --git a/reana_commons/config.py b/reana_commons/config.py
index b1595e19..90453028 100644
--- a/reana_commons/config.py
+++ b/reana_commons/config.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
             port=os.getenv('WORKFLOW_CONTROLLER_SERVICE_PORT_HTTP', '5000')),
         'reana_workflow_controller.json'),
     'reana-server': (
-        os.getenv('REANA_SERVER_URL', '0.0.0.0'),
+        os.getenv('REANA_SERVER_URL'),
         'reana_server.json'),
     'reana-job-controller': (
         'http://{address}:{port}'.format(
diff --git a/reana_commons/errors.py b/reana_commons/errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8dce193f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/reana_commons/errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# This file is part of REANA.
+# Copyright (C) 2018 CERN.
+#
+# REANA is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+# under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for more details.
+"""REANA Commons errors."""
+
+
+class REANAServerNotSet(Exception):
+    """REANA Server URL is not set."""