diff --git a/docs/getting-started/installation.md b/docs/getting-started/installation.md
index 5128f28..20ae9b1 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/installation.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/installation.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ These are the details you need to follow in order to make Simone work on your lo
 
 1. Register at [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/)
 2. Get an API Key
+3. Upload the API key in a file called `.env` at the root of the project. A sample `.env` file is given as `sample.env`, you can upload your API key in this file and rename it to `.env`.
 
 ## Installation
 
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index cf2958d..5afe79f 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import sys
 from typing import Annotated
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@
 load_dotenv()
 api_key = os.getenv("GEMMA_API_KEY")
 
-__version__ = "2.1.0"
+__version__ = "2.1.1"
 
 
 def version_callback(value: bool):
@@ -48,6 +49,14 @@ def main(
     ] = None,
 ):
 
+    if api_key:
+        print("GEMMA 7B API key found. Continuing execution...")
+    else:
+        print(
+            "Error: GEMMA 7B API key not found. Please obtain an API key from OpenRouter.ai before proceeding. Check the documentations if required.",
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     print("Downloading audio and video...")
     downloads = Downloader(f"{url}")
     downloads.audio()