diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index 0b338afefb0..f385b497b59 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -3095,13 +3095,13 @@ class ProxyConfig:
 
             if master_key is not None and isinstance(master_key, str):
                 if master_key == "sk-1234":
-                    raise ValueError(
-                            f"LITELLM_MASTER_KEY is set to the default master-key granting proxy admin access, please change it to something stronger"
-                           )
-                if len(master_key) < 16:
+                    verbose_proxy_logger.critical(
+                        "LITELLM_MASTER_KEY is set to the default master key granting proxy admin access, please change it to something stronger"
+                    )
+                if len(master_key) < 32:
                     verbose_proxy_logger.warning(
-                        "A key of at least 32 characters is reccomended for production"
-                        )
+                        "A key of at least 32 characters is recommended for production"
+                    )
 
             ### USER API KEY CACHE IN-MEMORY TTL ###
             user_api_key_cache_ttl = general_settings.get(