diff --git a/src/OrsBase.js b/src/OrsBase.js
index b190f2b..36ee2a7 100644
--- a/src/OrsBase.js
+++ b/src/OrsBase.js
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class OrsBase {
     }
     if (Constants.propNames.apiKey in args) {
       this.defaultArgs[Constants.propNames.apiKey] = args[Constants.propNames.apiKey]
-    } else {
+    } else if (!args[Constants.propNames.host]) {
+      // Do not error if a host is specified; useful for locally-run instances of ORS
       console.error(Constants.missingAPIKeyMsg)
       throw new Error(Constants.missingAPIKeyMsg)
     }
diff --git a/src/__tests__/OrsBase.cy.js b/src/__tests__/OrsBase.cy.js
index 6fc6cce..d165fcc 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/OrsBase.cy.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/OrsBase.cy.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ describe('Test Base class', () => {
 
     it('passes Host correctly', () => {
       const base = new OrsBase({
-        'api_key': 'test',
         'host': 'localhost:8080'
       })
       expect(base.defaultArgs, 'Base instance').to.haveOwnProperty('host')