diff --git a/litellm/__pycache__/utils.cpython-311.pyc b/litellm/__pycache__/utils.cpython-311.pyc
index cf6dbf096b..ec29fd6b83 100644
Binary files a/litellm/__pycache__/utils.cpython-311.pyc and b/litellm/__pycache__/utils.cpython-311.pyc differ
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_utils.py b/litellm/tests/test_utils.py
index aab86ac4ed..abd99bc301 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ sys.path.insert(
 )  # Adds the parent directory to the system path
 import pytest
 import litellm
-from litellm.utils import trim_messages, get_token_count, get_valid_models, check_valid_key
+from litellm.utils import trim_messages, get_token_count, get_valid_models, check_valid_key, validate_environment
 
 # Assuming your trim_messages, shorten_message_to_fit_limit, and get_token_count functions are all in a module named 'message_utils'
 
@@ -93,3 +93,12 @@ def test_good_key():
     key = os.environ['OPENAI_API_KEY']
     response = check_valid_key(model="gpt-3.5-turbo", api_key=key)
     assert(response == True)
+
+# test validate environment 
+
+def test_validate_environment_empty_model():
+    api_key = validate_environment()
+    if api_key is None:
+        raise Exception() 
+
+# test_validate_environment_empty_model()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/litellm/utils.py b/litellm/utils.py
index 9b4aad5e7c..f377954a42 100644
--- a/litellm/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/utils.py
@@ -1325,9 +1325,12 @@ def load_test_model(
             "exception": e,
         }
 
-def validate_environment(model: str) -> dict:
+def validate_environment(model: Optional[str]=None) -> dict:
     keys_in_environment = False
     missing_keys = []
+
+    if model is None:
+        return {"keys_in_environment": keys_in_environment, "missing_keys": missing_keys} 
     ## EXTRACT LLM PROVIDER - if model name provided
     custom_llm_provider = None
     # check if llm provider part of model name
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 46ff005732..aac731c19c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "litellm"
-version = "0.1.772"
+version = "0.1.773"
 description = "Library to easily interface with LLM API providers"
 authors = ["BerriAI"]
 license = "MIT License"