diff --git a/src/tasks/remind.ts b/src/tasks/remind.ts
index 790be9c1..222480bb 100644
--- a/src/tasks/remind.ts
+++ b/src/tasks/remind.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ export async function remind(api: Api): Promise<void> {
   Logger.info(`Found ${mergeRequests.length} open merge requests.`);
 
   // instantiate slack client
-  const client = new WebClient(process.env.SLACK_API_TOKEN);
+  const client = typeof process.env.SLACK_API_TOKEN !== 'undefined' ?
+                 new WebClient(process.env.SLACK_API_TOKEN) :
+                 undefined;
 
   // get members of main group
   const members = await api.getMembers(MembershipScope.GROUPS, GROUPS[0]);
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ export async function remind(api: Api): Promise<void> {
           .join(', ');
 
         // send message to slack
-        await client.chat.postMessage({
+        await client?.chat.postMessage({
          channel: SLACK_CHANNEL,
          text: `Merge request '${mergeRequest.title}' needs more approvals! See ${mergeRequest.web_url}!`,
         });
@@ -152,7 +154,7 @@ export async function remind(api: Api): Promise<void> {
         Logger.log(`Merge request '${mergeRequest.title}' is ready to be merged!`);
 
         // send message to slack
-        await client.chat.postMessage({
+        await client?.chat.postMessage({
          channel: SLACK_CHANNEL,
          text: `Merge request '${mergeRequest.title}' is ready to be merged! See ${mergeRequest.web_url}!`,
         });