diff --git a/src/mitm/server.js b/src/mitm/server.js
index ff18874..62fd169 100644
--- a/src/mitm/server.js
+++ b/src/mitm/server.js
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ const DB_FILE = path.join(DATA_DIR, "db.json");
 
 const ENABLE_FILE_LOG = false;
 
-if (!API_KEY) {
-  err("ROUTER_API_KEY required");
-  process.exit(1);
-}
 
 const { getCertForDomain } = require("./cert/generate");
 
@@ -193,7 +189,7 @@ async function intercept(req, res, bodyBuffer, mappedModel) {
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
-        "Authorization": `Bearer ${API_KEY}`
+        ...(API_KEY && { "Authorization": `Bearer ${API_KEY}` })
       },
       body: JSON.stringify(body)
     });
diff --git a/src/shared/services/initializeApp.js b/src/shared/services/initializeApp.js
index aaf51f2..30d7496 100644
--- a/src/shared/services/initializeApp.js
+++ b/src/shared/services/initializeApp.js
@@ -116,13 +116,9 @@ async function autoStartMitm() {
     // Need an active API key
     const keys = await getApiKeys();
     const activeKey = keys.find(k => k.isActive !== false);
-    if (!activeKey) {
-      console.log("[InitApp] MITM auto-start skipped: no active API key");
-      return;
-    }
 
     console.log("[InitApp] MITM was enabled, auto-starting...");
-    await startMitm(activeKey.key, password || "");
+    await startMitm(activeKey?.key || "sk_9router", password || "");
     console.log("[InitApp] MITM auto-started");
   } catch (err) {
     console.log("[InitApp] MITM auto-start failed:", err.message);