diff --git a/moonstreamapi/moonstreamapi/settings.py b/moonstreamapi/moonstreamapi/settings.py
index 1ae46003..cf1db9a0 100644
--- a/moonstreamapi/moonstreamapi/settings.py
+++ b/moonstreamapi/moonstreamapi/settings.py
@@ -260,10 +260,16 @@ supportsInterface_abi = [
     }
 ]
 
-MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = os.environ.get(
-    "MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "10"
-)
-
-MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = int(
-    MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS_RAW = os.environ.get(
+    "MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS"
 )
+MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 10
+try:
+    if MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS_RAW is not None:
+        MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = int(
+            MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS_RAW
+        )
+except:
+    raise Exception(
+        f"Could not parse MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS as int: {MOONSTREAM_INTERNAL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS_RAW}"
+    )