diff --git a/app/helpers/monitoring.py b/app/helpers/monitoring.py
index 22e487d..2114cb3 100644
--- a/app/helpers/monitoring.py
+++ b/app/helpers/monitoring.py
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@
 
 # Azure Application Insights
 APPINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING = env.get("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING", None)
-if not APPINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING:
-    raise ValueError("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING is not set")
 
-# OpenTelemetry
-configure_azure_monitor()  # Configure Azure Application Insights exporter
-AioHttpClientInstrumentor().instrument()  # Instrument aiohttp
-HTTPXClientInstrumentor().instrument()  # Instrument httpx
+if not APPINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING:
+    # We don't raise an error, that feature must be optional
+    print("Azure Application Insights monitoring is disabled, set APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING to enable.")
+else:
+    # OpenTelemetry
+    configure_azure_monitor()  # Configure Azure Application Insights exporter
+    AioHttpClientInstrumentor().instrument()  # Instrument aiohttp
+    HTTPXClientInstrumentor().instrument()  # Instrument httpx