diff --git a/litellm_server/utils.py b/litellm_server/utils.py
index 961658b917b..53ee75b3604 100644
--- a/litellm_server/utils.py
+++ b/litellm_server/utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import os, litellm
 import pkg_resources
+import dotenv
+dotenv.load_dotenv() # load env variables
 
 def print_verbose(print_statement): 
     if os.environ["SET_VERBOSE"] == "True":