diff --git a/shared/datastore/src/connect_minio.py b/shared/datastore/src/connect_minio.py
index c0bd3f5..aeef685 100644
--- a/shared/datastore/src/connect_minio.py
+++ b/shared/datastore/src/connect_minio.py
@@ -5,23 +5,19 @@ import os
 
 from minio import Minio
 
+from shared.utils import check_env
+
 
 def connect_minio() -> Minio:
     """Connect to MinIO server."""
     # ensure necessary env vars available
-    env_var_list = [
+    var_list = {
         'MINIO_ENDPOINT',
         'MINIO_ACCESS_KEY',
         'MINIO_SECRET_KEY',
         'MINIO_BUCKET_NAME',
-    ]
-    for env_var in env_var_list:
-        # ensure env var set
-        assert (
-            env_var in os.environ
-        ), f"environment variable not set: {
-            env_var
-        }"
+    }
+    check_env(var_list)
     # prepare arguments
     minio_endpoint = os.getenv('MINIO_ENDPOINT', default='')
     minio_access_key = os.getenv('MINIO_ACCESS_KEY', default='')