diff --git a/qqq-backend-module-rdbms/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/module/rdbms/jdbc/ConnectionManagerTest.java b/qqq-backend-module-rdbms/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/module/rdbms/jdbc/ConnectionManagerTest.java
index c23cd928..715e4358 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-module-rdbms/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/module/rdbms/jdbc/ConnectionManagerTest.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-module-rdbms/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/module/rdbms/jdbc/ConnectionManagerTest.java
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ class ConnectionManagerTest
 
    private RDBMSBackendMetaData getAuroraBacked()
    {
-      Dotenv dotenv = Dotenv.configure().load();
+      Dotenv dotenv = Dotenv.configure()
+         .ignoreIfMissing()
+         .load();
       return new RDBMSBackendMetaData()
          .withName("aurora-test")
          .withVendor(dotenv.get("RDBMS_VENDOR"))
diff --git a/qqq-sample-project/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/sampleapp/SampleMetaDataProvider.java b/qqq-sample-project/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/sampleapp/SampleMetaDataProvider.java
index 2330845c..fd48661d 100644
--- a/qqq-sample-project/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/sampleapp/SampleMetaDataProvider.java
+++ b/qqq-sample-project/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/sampleapp/SampleMetaDataProvider.java
@@ -135,7 +135,9 @@ public class SampleMetaDataProvider
          .withName(PersonsByCreateDateBarChart.class.getSimpleName())
          .withCodeReference(new QCodeReference(PersonsByCreateDateBarChart.class, null)));
 
-      Dotenv dotenv = Dotenv.configure().load();
+      Dotenv dotenv = Dotenv.configure()
+         .ignoreIfMissing()
+         .load();
       QWidgetMetaDataInterface quickSightChartMetaData = new QuickSightChartMetaData()
          .withAccountId(dotenv.get("QUICKSIGHT_ACCCOUNT_ID"))
          .withAccessKey(dotenv.get("QUICKSIGHT_ACCESS_KEY"))