BerriAI/litellm · error · ValueError

Azure AI API key is required for model {model}. Set AZURE_AI

Error message

Azure AI API key is required for model {model}. Set AZURE_AI_API_KEY environment variable or pass api_key parameter.

What it means

Error "Azure AI API key is required for model {model}. Set AZURE_AI_API_KEY environment variable or pass api_key parameter." thrown in BerriAI/litellm.

Source

Thrown at litellm/llms/azure_ai/image_edit/transformation.py:38

    with image files and prompt.
    """

    def validate_environment(
        self,
        headers: dict,
        model: str,
        api_key: str | None = None,
        litellm_params: dict | None = None,
        api_base: str | None = None,
    ) -> dict:
        """
        Validate Azure AI Foundry environment and set up authentication
        Uses Api-Key header format
        """
        api_key = AzureFoundryModelInfo.get_api_key(api_key)

        if not api_key:
            raise ValueError(
                f"Azure AI API key is required for model {model}. Set AZURE_AI_API_KEY environment variable or pass api_key parameter."
            )

        headers.update(
            {
                "Api-Key": api_key,  # Azure AI Foundry uses Api-Key header format
            }
        )
        return headers

    def get_complete_url(
        self,
        model: str,
        api_base: str | None,
        litellm_params: dict,
    ) -> str:
        """
        Constructs a complete URL for Azure AI Foundry image edits API request.

View on GitHub (pinned to 6c2dcb801b)

Solutions

1. Set AZURE_AI_API_KEY or pass api_key.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at litellm/llms/azure_ai/image_edit/transformation.py:38 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of BerriAI/litellm@6c2dcb801b (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/304809156449e680. Report an issue: GitHub.