TauricResearch/TradingAgents · error · ValueError

API key for provider '{self.provider}' is not set. Please se

Error message

API key for provider '{self.provider}' is not set. Please set the {api_key_env} environment variable (e.g. add {api_key_env}=your_key to your .env file).

What it means

Error "API key for provider '{self.provider}' is not set. Please set the {api_key_env} environment variable (e.g. add {api_key_env}=your_key to your .env file)." thrown in TauricResearch/TradingAgents.

Source

Thrown at tradingagents/llm_clients/openai_client.py:310

            api_key_env = get_api_key_env(self.provider)
            api_key = os.environ.get(api_key_env) if api_key_env else None
            if api_key:
                llm_kwargs["api_key"] = api_key
            elif spec.key_optional:
                llm_kwargs["api_key"] = spec.placeholder_key
            elif api_key_env:
                raise ValueError(
                    f"API key for provider '{self.provider}' is not set. "
                    f"Please set the {api_key_env} environment variable "
                    f"(e.g. add {api_key_env}=your_key to your .env file)."
                )

View on GitHub (pinned to a33fd4c0f1)

Solutions

  1. Set the required API key environment variable for the provider, e.g. add OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key to your .env file or export it in your shell.
  2. Verify the env var name matches the provider's expected variable via get_api_key_env(provider) before setting it.
  3. If using a keyless local server, choose a provider marked key_optional so a placeholder key is used instead.

Example fix

export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at tradingagents/llm_clients/openai_client.py:310 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of TauricResearch/TradingAgents@a33fd4c0f1 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f36d2f26b8ae02c5. Report an issue: GitHub.