diff --git a/shared/utils/check_env.py b/shared/utils/check_env.py
index 99663c3..f9a0e89 100644
--- a/shared/utils/check_env.py
+++ b/shared/utils/check_env.py
@@ -1,26 +1,14 @@
 """Definition of check_env function."""
 
-from __future__ import annotations
-
 import os
 
 
-def check_env() -> None:
+def check_env(
+    var_list: set[str],
+) -> None:
     """Check necessary environment variables are set."""
-    necesasary_var_list = {
-        'MONGO_HOST',
-        'MONGO_DB',
-        'MONGO_COLLECTION',
-        'MONGO_USER',
-        'MONGO_PASSWORD',
-        'DASH_AUTH_USERNAME',
-        'DASH_AUTH_PASSWORD',
-        'MINIO_ENDPOINT',
-        'MINIO_ACCESS_KEY',
-        'MINIO_SECRET_KEY',
-        'MINIO_BUCKET_NAME',
-        'MINIO_BUCKET_NAME_MODELS',
-    }
-    for env_var in necesasary_var_list:
-        # ensure env var set
+    assert isinstance(var_list, set)
+    assert all(isinstance(elem, str) for elem in var_list)
+    # check that env vars are set
+    for env_var in var_list:
         assert env_var in os.environ, f"environment variable not set: {env_var}"
diff --git a/web_ui/src/main.py b/web_ui/src/main.py
index 3d61313..8f74c24 100644
--- a/web_ui/src/main.py
+++ b/web_ui/src/main.py
@@ -11,7 +11,21 @@ from shared.utils import check_env, setup_logging
 from .app import init_app
 
 # ensure env vars set
-check_env()
+var_list = {
+    'MONGO_HOST',
+    'MONGO_DB',
+    'MONGO_COLLECTION',
+    'MONGO_USER',
+    'MONGO_PASSWORD',
+    'DASH_AUTH_USERNAME',
+    'DASH_AUTH_PASSWORD',
+    'MINIO_ENDPOINT',
+    'MINIO_ACCESS_KEY',
+    'MINIO_SECRET_KEY',
+    'MINIO_BUCKET_NAME',
+    'MINIO_BUCKET_NAME_MODELS',
+}
+check_env(var_list)
 
 # setup logging stream handler
 setup_logging()