diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 488c211b8..955d6a62d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ pip install litellm
 
 ```python
 from litellm import completion
+import os
+
+# set API keys
+os.environ['OPENAI_API_KEY'] = "<your key>"
 
 messages = [{ "content": "Hello, how are you?","role": "user"}]