diff --git a/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml b/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
index 6af496841..2a39b781b 100644
--- a/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
+++ b/services/bstein-dev-home/backend-deployment.yaml
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ spec:
           args:
             - >-
               . /vault/secrets/portal-env.sh
+              && export SMTP_HOST=""
               && exec gunicorn -b 0.0.0.0:8080 --workers 2 --timeout 1200 app:app
           env:
             - name: AI_CHAT_API