diff --git a/apps/backend/environment.js b/apps/backend/environment.js
index d57f3a0..e93ea9c 100644
--- a/apps/backend/environment.js
+++ b/apps/backend/environment.js
@@ -26,15 +26,23 @@ const environmentVariables = {
   LOG_LEVEL: process.env.LOG_LEVEL || "info",
   LOG_FILE_SIZE: process.env.LOG_FILE_SIZE || 1,
   EXPRESS_REQUEST_SIZE_LIMIT: process.env.EXPRESS_REQUEST_SIZE_LIMIT || "5mb",
-  CORS_WHITELIST: process.env.CORS_WHITELIST
-    ? process.env.CORS_WHITELIST.split(",")
-    : [
+  CORS_WHITELIST: (() => {
+    if (process.env.CORS_WHITELIST) {
+      return process.env.CORS_WHITELIST.split(",");
+    }
+    if (env === "development") {
+      return [
         "http://localhost:3000",
         "http://localhost:5173",
         "http://127.0.0.1:3000",
         "http://127.0.0.1:3001",
         "http://localhost:3001",
-      ],
+      ];
+    }
+    throw new Error(
+      "CORS_WHITELIST environment variable is required in non-development environments"
+    );
+  })(),
 };
 console.log("environment variables set-----------------------------");
 console.log(environmentVariables);