diff --git a/ChatGPT_Bear/assistant.py b/ChatGPT_Bear/assistant.py
index d89d69218..e5dae68ee 100644
--- a/ChatGPT_Bear/assistant.py
+++ b/ChatGPT_Bear/assistant.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import threading
 import os
+import sys
 
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from queue import Queue
@@ -48,6 +49,12 @@ openai.api_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
 speech_key = os.environ.get("SPEECH_KEY")
 service_region = os.environ.get("SPEECH_REGION")
 
+if openai.api_key is None or speech_key is None or service_region is None:
+    print(
+        "Please set the OPENAI_API_KEY, SPEECH_KEY, and SPEECH_REGION environment variables first."
+    )
+    sys.exit(1)
+
 speech_config = speechsdk.SpeechConfig(subscription=speech_key, region=service_region)
 speech_config.speech_synthesis_voice_name = AZURE_SPEECH_VOICE