diff --git a/inventory-app/api.py b/inventory-app/api.py
index ebed82d..10241aa 100644
--- a/inventory-app/api.py
+++ b/inventory-app/api.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ def check_api_key(f):
     @wraps(f)
     def decorated_function(*args, **kwargs):
         request_key = request.headers.get('Authorization', False)
+        if not request_key:
+            return "nope", 403
         found_key = re.search(r"Basic (.*)", request_key).group(1)
         if not found_key or found_key != api_key:
             return "nope", 403