diff --git a/server/src/business-layer/security/Firebase.ts b/server/src/business-layer/security/Firebase.ts
index 4bfddad11..a9e55da92 100644
--- a/server/src/business-layer/security/Firebase.ts
+++ b/server/src/business-layer/security/Firebase.ts
@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@ import {
 import * as _admin from "firebase-admin"
 
 const keysEnvVar = process.env.GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_JSON
+let keys
 
 if (!keysEnvVar && process.env.JEST_WORKER_ID !== undefined) {
   throw new Error("The $CREDS environment variable was not found!")
 }
 
-const keys = JSON.parse(keysEnvVar)
+if (process.env.JEST_WORKER_ID !== undefined) {
+  keys = JSON.parse(keysEnvVar)
+}
 
 if (process.env.DEV || process.env.JEST_WORKER_ID !== undefined) {
   process.env.FIRESTORE_EMULATOR_HOST = `${EMULATOR_HOST}:${EMULATOR_FIRESTORE_PORT}`