diff --git a/code/initialise_app.py b/code/initialise_app.py
index a22b2b8..ba0a63b 100644
--- a/code/initialise_app.py
+++ b/code/initialise_app.py
@@ -20,15 +20,14 @@ def initialise_app(
     discord_service_name: str = DISCORD_SERVICE_NAME,
     discord_webhook_url: str = DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL,
     discord_logger_level: str = DISCORD_LOGGER_LEVEL
-) -> int:
+) -> None:
     """
     Convienience function that ensures eveything is ready
     before running the main loop.
     """
     # load environment variables
     load_dotenv()
-    user_id = int(os.getenv('USER_ID', default=None))
-    assert user_id is not None, 'environment variable USER_ID must be specified'
+    assert 'USER_ID' in os.environ, 'environment variable USER_ID must be specified'
     logger_level = os.getenv(
         'LOGGER_LEVEL',
         default=LOGGER_LEVEL
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ def initialise_app(
     discord_handler.setLevel(level=level)
     logger.addHandler(discord_handler)
     logging.debug('finished')
-    return user_id
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':