diff --git a/src/bot/root_pythia_bot.py b/src/bot/root_pythia_bot.py
index 84104e7..6f80794 100644
--- a/src/bot/root_pythia_bot.py
+++ b/src/bot/root_pythia_bot.py
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@
 from bot.dummy_db_manager import DummyDBManager
 
 
-CHANNEL_ID = int(getenv("CHANNEL_ID"))
+CHANNEL_ID = getenv('CHANNEL_ID')
+if CHANNEL_ID.isnumeric():
+    CHANNEL_ID = int(CHANNEL_ID)
+else:
+    logging.warning("CHANNEL_ID environment variable is either not set or not an integer: %s", CHANNEL_ID)
 
 
 def craft_intents():