diff --git a/ai/litellm-config.yaml b/ai/litellm-config.yaml
index b73c189..849cbe5 100644
--- a/ai/litellm-config.yaml
+++ b/ai/litellm-config.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ model_list:
     litellm_params:
       model: hosted_vllm/openai/qwen-2.5-7b  # hosted_vllm/openai/ prefix for proper streaming
       api_base: os.environ/GPU_VLLM_QWEN_URL  # Direct to vLLM Qwen server
+      api_key: "EMPTY"  # vLLM doesn't validate API keys
       rpm: 1000
       tpm: 100000
       timeout: 600  # 10 minutes for generation
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ model_list:
     litellm_params:
       model: hosted_vllm/openai/llama-3.1-8b  # hosted_vllm/openai/ prefix for proper streaming
       api_base: os.environ/GPU_VLLM_LLAMA_URL  # Direct to vLLM Llama server
+      api_key: "EMPTY"  # vLLM doesn't validate API keys
       rpm: 1000
       tpm: 100000
       timeout: 600  # 10 minutes for generation