diff --git a/kpex/kpex_cli.py b/kpex/kpex_cli.py
index 66b7081f..266bd23f 100755
--- a/kpex/kpex_cli.py
+++ b/kpex/kpex_cli.py
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ class KpexCLI:
     def parse_args(arg_list: List[str] = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
         # epilog = f"See '{PROGRAM_NAME} <subcommand> -h' for help on subcommand"
         epilog = """
-| Variable | Example              |
-| -------- | -------------------- |
-| PDKPATH  | (e.g. $HOME/.volare) |
-| PDK      | (e.g. sky130A)       |
+| Variable | Example              | Description                             |
+| -------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
+| PDKPATH  | (e.g. $HOME/.volare) | Optional (required for default magigrc) |
+| PDK      | (e.g. sky130A)       | Optional (required for default magigrc) |
 """
         epilog_md = rich.console.Group(
             rich.text.Text('Environmental variables:', style='argparse.groups'),
@@ -199,7 +199,10 @@ def parse_args(arg_list: List[str] = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
                                      action='store_true', default=False,
                                      help="FasterCap -pj Use Jacobi preconditioner (default is %(default)s)")
 
-        default_magicrc_path = os.path.abspath(f"{os.environ['PDKPATH']}/libs.tech/magic/{os.environ['PDK']}.magicrc")
+        PDKPATH = os.environ.get('PDKPATH', None)
+        default_magicrc_path = \
+            None if PDKPATH is None \
+            else os.path.abspath(f"{PDKPATH}/libs.tech/magic/{os.environ['PDK']}.magicrc")
         group_magic = main_parser.add_argument_group("MAGIC options")
         group_magic.add_argument('--magicrc', dest='magicrc_path', default=default_magicrc_path,
                                   help=f"Path to magicrc configuration file (default is '%(default)s')")