diff --git a/examples/pipelines/providers/routellm_pipeline.py b/examples/pipelines/providers/routellm_pipeline.py
index f7203c9..bfc0cea 100644
--- a/examples/pipelines/providers/routellm_pipeline.py
+++ b/examples/pipelines/providers/routellm_pipeline.py
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@
 title: RouteLLM Pipeline
 author: justinh-rahb
 date: 2024-07-25
-version: 0.2.2
+version: 0.2.3
 license: MIT
 description: A pipeline for routing LLM requests using RouteLLM framework, compatible with OpenAI API.
 requirements: routellm, pydantic, requests
 """
 
+import os
 from typing import List, Union, Generator, Iterator
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 import logging
@@ -15,8 +16,9 @@ from routellm.controller import Controller
 
 class Pipeline:
     class Valves(BaseModel):
-        ROUTELLM_ROUTER: str = Field(
-            default="mf", description="Identifier for the RouteLLM router."
+        ROUTELLM_SUFFIX: str = Field(
+            default="OpenAI",
+            description="Suffix to use for model identifier and name."
         )
         ROUTELLM_STRONG_MODEL: str = Field(
             default="gpt-4o", description="Identifier for the strong model."
@@ -24,51 +26,33 @@ class Pipeline:
         ROUTELLM_WEAK_MODEL: str = Field(
             default="gpt-4o-mini", description="Identifier for the weak model."
         )
-        ROUTELLM_STRONG_API_KEY: str = Field(
-            default="sk-your-api-key",
-            description="API key for accessing the strong model."
-        )
-        ROUTELLM_WEAK_API_KEY: str = Field(
-            default="sk-your-api-key",
-            description="API key for accessing the weak model."
-        )
-        ROUTELLM_STRONG_BASE_URL: str = Field(
+        ROUTELLM_BASE_URL: str = Field(
             default="https://api.openai.com/v1",
-            description="Base URL for the strong model's API."
+            description="Base URL for the API."
         )
-        ROUTELLM_WEAK_BASE_URL: str = Field(
-            default="https://api.openai.com/v1",
-            description="Base URL for the weak model's API."
+        ROUTELLM_API_KEY: str = Field(
+            default="sk-your-api-key",
+            description="API key for accessing models."
+        )
+        ROUTELLM_ROUTER: str = Field(
+            default="mf", description="Identifier for the RouteLLM routing model."
         )
         ROUTELLM_THRESHOLD: float = Field(
             default=0.11593,
             description="Threshold value for determining when to use the strong model."
         )
-        ROUTELLM_SUFFIX: str = Field(
-            default="OpenAI",
-            description="Suffix to use for model identifier and name."
-        )
 
     def __init__(self):
         self.type = "manifold"
-        self.valves = self.Valves()
         self.id = "routellm"
-        self.name = f"RouteLLM/"
+        self.name = "RouteLLM/"
+        
+        # Initialize valves with environment variables if available
+        self.valves = self.Valves(
+            ROUTELLM_API_KEY=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY", "")
+        )
+        
         self.controller = None
-
-        self._initialize_controller()
-
-    def pipelines(self) -> List[dict]:
-        return [{"id": f"{self.valves.ROUTELLM_SUFFIX.lower()}", "name": f"{self.valves.ROUTELLM_SUFFIX}"}]
-
-    async def on_startup(self):
-        logging.info(f"on_startup: {__name__}")
-
-    async def on_shutdown(self):
-        logging.info(f"on_shutdown: {__name__}")
-
-    async def on_valves_updated(self):
-        logging.info(f"on_valves_updated: {__name__}")
         self._initialize_controller()
 
     def _initialize_controller(self):
@@ -76,9 +60,8 @@ class Pipeline:
             strong_model = self.valves.ROUTELLM_STRONG_MODEL
             weak_model = self.valves.ROUTELLM_WEAK_MODEL
 
-            # Set the API keys as environment variables
-            import os
-            os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = self.valves.ROUTELLM_STRONG_API_KEY
+            # Set the API key as an environment variable
+            os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = self.valves.ROUTELLM_API_KEY
 
             self.controller = Controller(
                 routers=[self.valves.ROUTELLM_ROUTER],
@@ -90,11 +73,25 @@ class Pipeline:
             logging.error(f"Error initializing RouteLLM controller: {e}")
             self.controller = None
 
+    def pipelines(self) -> List[dict]:
+        return [{"id": f"{self.valves.ROUTELLM_SUFFIX.lower()}", "name": f"{self.valves.ROUTELLM_SUFFIX}"}]
+
+    async def on_startup(self):
+        logging.info(f"on_startup: {__name__}")
+        self._initialize_controller()
+
+    async def on_shutdown(self):
+        logging.info(f"on_shutdown: {__name__}")
+
+    async def on_valves_updated(self):
+        logging.info(f"on_valves_updated: {__name__}")
+        self._initialize_controller()
+
     def pipe(
         self, user_message: str, model_id: str, messages: List[dict], body: dict
     ) -> Union[str, Generator, Iterator]:
         if not self.controller:
-            return "Error: RouteLLM controller not initialized. Please update valves with valid API keys and configuration."
+            return "Error: RouteLLM controller not initialized. Please update valves with valid API key and configuration."
 
         try:
             model_name = f"router-{self.valves.ROUTELLM_ROUTER}-{self.valves.ROUTELLM_THRESHOLD}"