diff --git a/samples/python/agents/travel_planner_agent/agent.py b/samples/python/agents/travel_planner_agent/agent.py
index e8892724..82f5fd0b 100644
--- a/samples/python/agents/travel_planner_agent/agent.py
+++ b/samples/python/agents/travel_planner_agent/agent.py
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ def __init__(self):
         try:
             with open('config.json') as f:
                 config = json.load(f)
-            if not os.getenv(config['api_key']):
-                print(f'{config["api_key"]} environment variable not set.')
+            if not config['api_key']:
+                print('api_key configuration not set.')
                 sys.exit(1)
-            api_key = os.getenv(config['api_key'])
+            api_key = config['api_key']
 
             self.model = ChatOpenAI(
                 model=config['model_name'] or 'gpt-4o',