diff --git a/src/lib/utils/rate-limiter.ts b/src/lib/utils/rate-limiter.ts
index bef7723..0d3f260 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/rate-limiter.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/rate-limiter.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ function getClientIp(req: Request & { ip?: string}): string {
 }
 
 export async function rateLimitCheck(req: Request & { ip?: string }, paperId: string) {
+  if (!redis) {
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") {
+      throw new CustomError("rate limiting is not configured", 503);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
   const ratelimit = new Ratelimit({
     redis,
     limiter: Ratelimit.slidingWindow(3, "1 h"),//per id - 3 request - per hour
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/ratelimit.ts b/src/lib/utils/ratelimit.ts
index 55542a9..183daf8 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/ratelimit.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/ratelimit.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 import { Ratelimit } from "@upstash/ratelimit";
 import { redis } from "./redis";
 
-// Rate limiter for AI Upload (5 requests per 15 minutes)
-export const aiUploadRatelimit = new Ratelimit({
-  redis: redis,
-  limiter: Ratelimit.slidingWindow(5, "900 s"),
-});
+type Window = Parameters<typeof Ratelimit.slidingWindow>[1];
 
-// Rate limiter for Paper Requests (5 requests per 15 minutes)
-export const paperRequestRatelimit = new Ratelimit({
-  redis: redis,
-  limiter: Ratelimit.slidingWindow(5, "900 s"),
-});
+function allow(requests: number, window: Window) {
+  return redis
+    ? new Ratelimit({ redis, limiter: Ratelimit.slidingWindow(requests, window) })
+    : null;
+}
 
-// Rate limiter for Subscriptions (3 requests per hour)
-export const subscribeRatelimit = new Ratelimit({
-  redis: redis,
-  limiter: Ratelimit.slidingWindow(3, "1 h"),
-});
+export const aiUploadRatelimit = allow(5, "900 s");
+
+export const paperRequestRatelimit = allow(5, "900 s");
+
+export const subscribeRatelimit = allow(3, "1 h");
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/redis.ts b/src/lib/utils/redis.ts
index 962a318..2e7d5d2 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/redis.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/redis.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 import { Redis } from "@upstash/redis";
 
-export const redis =
-  process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL && process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN
-    ? new Redis({
-        url: process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL,
-        token: process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN,
-      })
-    : ({} as Redis);
+const url = process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL;
+const token = process.env.UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN;
+
+export const redis = url && token ? new Redis({ url, token }) : null;
diff --git a/src/middleware.ts b/src/middleware.ts
index 42cd036..5bf8cdb 100644
--- a/src/middleware.ts
+++ b/src/middleware.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ export const config = {
 };
 
 export default async function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
+  if (!aiUploadRatelimit || !paperRequestRatelimit || !subscribeRatelimit) {
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") {
+      return failure("rate limiting is not configured", 503);
+    }
+    return NextResponse.next();
+  }
+
   const ip = request.ip ?? "127.0.0.1";
   const { pathname } = request.nextUrl;