diff --git a/packages/ui-settings/src/Settings.ts b/packages/ui-settings/src/Settings.ts
index 3aebdb17..839cb160 100644
--- a/packages/ui-settings/src/Settings.ts
+++ b/packages/ui-settings/src/Settings.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export class Settings implements SettingsStruct {
     this.#emitter = new EventEmitter();
 
     // will become deprecated for supporting substrate connect light clients. apiType structure should be used instead
-    this.#apiUrl = (typeof settings.apiUrl === 'string' && settings.apiUrl) || process.env.WS_URL || (ENDPOINT_DEFAULT.value as string);
+    this.#apiUrl = (typeof settings.apiUrl === 'string' && settings.apiUrl) || (process && process.env && process.env.WS_URL) || (ENDPOINT_DEFAULT.value as string);
     this.#apiType = { param: this.#apiUrl, type: 'json-rpc' as EndpointType };
     this.#camera = withDefault(CAMERA, settings.camera, CAMERA_DEFAULT);
     this.#ledgerConn = withDefault(LEDGER_CONN, settings.ledgerConn, LEDGER_CONN_DEFAULT);