diff --git a/nethermind/nethermind-entrypoint b/nethermind/nethermind-entrypoint
index d818d92f..20b5f776 100755
--- a/nethermind/nethermind-entrypoint
+++ b/nethermind/nethermind-entrypoint
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ P2P_PORT="${P2P_PORT:-30303}"
 ADDITIONAL_ARGS=""
 
 # Check if required variables are set
-if [[ -z "$OP_NODE_NETWORK" ]]; then
+if [[ -z "${OP_NODE_NETWORK:-}" ]]; then
     echo "Expected OP_NODE_NETWORK to be set" 1>&2
     exit 1
 fi
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ fi
 mkdir -p "$NETHERMIND_DATA_DIR"
 
 # Write the JWT secret
-if [[ -z "$OP_NODE_L2_ENGINE_AUTH_RAW" ]]; then
+if [[ -z "${OP_NODE_L2_ENGINE_AUTH_RAW:-}" ]]; then
     echo "Expected OP_NODE_L2_ENGINE_AUTH_RAW to be set" 1>&2
     exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/op-node-entrypoint b/op-node-entrypoint
index 525372e9..bf96a4cb 100755
--- a/op-node-entrypoint
+++ b/op-node-entrypoint
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ get_public_ip() {
   return 1
 }
 
-if [[ -z "$OP_NODE_NETWORK" && -z "$OP_NODE_ROLLUP_CONFIG" ]]; then
+if [[ -z "${OP_NODE_NETWORK:-}" && -z "${OP_NODE_ROLLUP_CONFIG:-}" ]]; then
   echo "expected OP_NODE_NETWORK to be set" 1>&2
   exit 1
 fi