diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 5c3246fa5ba..497be83b96f 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@
         "autoprefixer": "^10.4.14",
         "cypress": "^13.5.0",
         "cypress-localstorage-commands": "^2.2.3",
-        "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
         "cypress-split": "^1.20.1",
         "eslint": "^8.44.0",
         "eslint-config-prettier": "^8.8.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9df2357d347..7c5ab561332 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@
     "autoprefixer": "^10.4.14",
     "cypress": "^13.5.0",
     "cypress-localstorage-commands": "^2.2.3",
-    "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
     "cypress-split": "^1.20.1",
     "eslint": "^8.44.0",
     "eslint-config-prettier": "^8.8.0",
diff --git a/vite.config.mts b/vite.config.mts
index 28b38c919dc..3c2d90c3fa0 100644
--- a/vite.config.mts
+++ b/vite.config.mts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { VitePWA } from "vite-plugin-pwa";
 import { defineConfig } from "vite";
 import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react-swc";
-import 'dotenv/config';
 
 const cdnUrls =
   process.env.CARE_CDN_URL ??
@@ -11,6 +10,8 @@ const cdnUrls =
     "http://localhost:4566",
   ].join(" ");
 
+  const local_care_api = process.env.CARE_API ?? "http://localhost:9000";
+
 export default defineConfig({
   envPrefix: "REACT_",
   plugins: [
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
     port: 4000,
     proxy: {
       "/api": {
-        target: process.env.CARE_API ?? "https://careapi.ohc.network",
+        target: local_care_api ?? "https://careapi.ohc.network",
         changeOrigin: true,
       },
     },
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
     port: 4000,
     proxy: {
       "/api": {
-        target: process.env.CARE_API ?? "https://careapi.ohc.network",
+        target: local_care_api ?? "https://careapi.ohc.network",
         changeOrigin: true,
       },
     },