diff --git a/server/src/pgboss-worker.ts b/server/src/pgboss-worker.ts
index 0771cc27..43dfbe73 100644
--- a/server/src/pgboss-worker.ts
+++ b/server/src/pgboss-worker.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ import { airtableUpdateTasks, processAirtableUpdates } from './workflow-manageme
 import { RemoteBrowser } from './browser-management/classes/RemoteBrowser';
 import { io as serverIo } from "./server";
 
-const pgBossConnectionString = `postgres://${process.env.DB_USER}:${process.env.DB_PASSWORD}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
+if (!process.env.DB_USER || !process.env.DB_PASSWORD || !process.env.DB_HOST || !process.env.DB_PORT || !process.env.DB_NAME) {
+    throw new Error('Failed to start pgboss worker: one or more required environment variables are missing.');
+}
+
+const pgBossConnectionString = `postgresql://${process.env.DB_USER}:${encodeURIComponent(process.env.DB_PASSWORD)}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
 
 interface InitializeBrowserData {
   userId: string;
@@ -522,4 +526,4 @@ process.on('SIGINT', async () => {
 });
 
 // For use in other files
-export { pgBoss };
\ No newline at end of file
+export { pgBoss };
diff --git a/server/src/schedule-worker.ts b/server/src/schedule-worker.ts
index 73afd872..91c3c224 100644
--- a/server/src/schedule-worker.ts
+++ b/server/src/schedule-worker.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ import Robot from './models/Robot';
 import { handleRunRecording } from './workflow-management/scheduler';
 import { computeNextRun } from './utils/schedule';
 
-const pgBossConnectionString = `postgres://${process.env.DB_USER}:${process.env.DB_PASSWORD}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
+if (!process.env.DB_USER || !process.env.DB_PASSWORD || !process.env.DB_HOST || !process.env.DB_PORT || !process.env.DB_NAME) {
+    throw new Error('One or more required environment variables are missing.');
+}
+
+const pgBossConnectionString = `postgresql://${process.env.DB_USER}:${encodeURIComponent(process.env.DB_PASSWORD)}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
 
 const pgBoss = new PgBoss({connectionString: pgBossConnectionString });
 
diff --git a/server/src/storage/db.ts b/server/src/storage/db.ts
index 25c1d104..72b9f22e 100644
--- a/server/src/storage/db.ts
+++ b/server/src/storage/db.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ import dotenv from 'dotenv';
 
 dotenv.config();
 
-const databaseUrl = `postgresql://${process.env.DB_USER}:${process.env.DB_PASSWORD}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
+if (!process.env.DB_USER || !process.env.DB_PASSWORD || !process.env.DB_HOST || !process.env.DB_PORT || !process.env.DB_NAME) {
+    throw new Error('One or more required environment variables are missing.');
+}
+
+const databaseUrl = `postgresql://${process.env.DB_USER}:${encodeURIComponent(process.env.DB_PASSWORD)}@${process.env.DB_HOST}:${process.env.DB_PORT}/${process.env.DB_NAME}`;
 
 // Extract the hostname using the URL constructor
 const host = new URL(databaseUrl).hostname;
@@ -42,4 +46,4 @@ export const syncDB = async () => {
 };
 
 
-export default sequelize;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default sequelize;