diff --git a/web/src/pages/Cases/CaseDetails/Voting/Shutter/Commit.tsx b/web/src/pages/Cases/CaseDetails/Voting/Shutter/Commit.tsx
index db7172f74..28363514f 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/Cases/CaseDetails/Voting/Shutter/Commit.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/Cases/CaseDetails/Voting/Shutter/Commit.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ const Commit: React.FC<ICommit> = ({
 
   const handleCommit = useCallback(
     async (choice: bigint) => {
+      if (!import.meta.env.REACT_APP_SHUTTER_API || import.meta.env.REACT_APP_SHUTTER_API.trim() === "") {
+        console.error("REACT_APP_SHUTTER_API environment variable is not set or is empty");
+        throw new Error("Cannot commit vote: REACT_APP_SHUTTER_API environment variable is required but not set");
+      }
       const message = { message: saltKey };
       const rawSalt = !isUndefined(signingAccount)
         ? await signingAccount.signMessage(message)