diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/os/utils.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/os/utils.py
index 3d22cfa6e..fba4a956d 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/os/utils.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/os/utils.py
@@ -116,7 +116,15 @@ def available_urls(cls) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
         for entry_point in select_from_extension(group=DiracEntryPoint.OS_DB):
             db_name = entry_point.name
             # Get the field value from the OpenSearchDBSettings model
-            if field_value := factory_settings.opensearch_dbs.get(db_name):
+            field_value = factory_settings.opensearch_dbs.get(db_name)
+            if field_value == "" or not field_value:
+                logger.warning(
+                    "%s found but no URL connection set: please set "
+                    "DIRACX_OS_DB_%s env variable to enable it.",
+                    db_name,
+                    db_name.upper(),
+                )
+            else:
                 try:
                     conn_kwargs[db_name] = json.loads(field_value)
                 except Exception:
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
index 64e0f2b00..852c71e0f 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
@@ -135,7 +135,15 @@ def available_urls(cls) -> dict[str, str]:
         for entry_point in select_from_extension(group=DiracEntryPoint.SQL_DB):
             db_name = entry_point.name
             # Get the field value from the SqlDBSettings model
-            if db_url := factory_settings.sql_dbs.get(db_name):
+            db_url = factory_settings.sql_dbs.get(db_name)
+            if db_url == "" or not db_url:
+                logger.warning(
+                    "%s found but no URL connection set: please set "
+                    "DIRACX_DB_URL_%s env variable to enable it.",
+                    db_name,
+                    db_name.upper(),
+                )
+            else:
                 try:
                     if db_url == "sqlite+aiosqlite:///:memory:":
                         db_urls[db_name] = db_url
diff --git a/diracx-routers/src/diracx/routers/factory.py b/diracx-routers/src/diracx/routers/factory.py
index ad2a1d71b..c4779be46 100644
--- a/diracx-routers/src/diracx/routers/factory.py
+++ b/diracx-routers/src/diracx/routers/factory.py
@@ -208,7 +208,14 @@ def create_app_inner(
             logger.exception("Failed to initialize DB %s", db_name)
 
     if fail_startup:
-        raise Exception("No SQL database could be initialized, aborting")
+        raise Exception(
+            "No SQL database could be initialized, aborting. "
+            "Please set the following env variables to enable it:\n "
+            + "\n ".join(
+                "DIRACX_DB_URL_" + ep.name.upper()
+                for ep in select_from_extension(group=DiracEntryPoint.SQL_DB)
+            )
+        )
 
     # Instantiate the cacheable sources and override their create methods,
     # mirroring the SQL DB wiring above. A single instance is used for each
@@ -277,22 +284,31 @@ def create_app_inner(
                     f"Cannot enable {system_name=} as it requires {cls=}"
                 )
 
-        # Ensure required DBs are available
+        # Ensure required SQL DBs are available
         missing_sql_dbs = (
             set(find_dependents(router, BaseSQLDB)) - available_sql_db_classes
         )
-
         if missing_sql_dbs:
             raise NotImplementedError(
-                f"Cannot enable {system_name=} as it requires {missing_sql_dbs=}"
+                f"Cannot enable {system_name=} please set the following env "
+                "variables to enable it:\n "
+                + "\n ".join(
+                    "DIRACX_DB_URL_" + x.__name__.upper() for x in missing_sql_dbs
+                )
             )
+
+        # Ensure required OpenSearch DBs are available
         missing_os_dbs = (
             set(find_dependents(router, BaseOSDB))  # type: ignore[type-abstract]
             - available_os_db_classes
         )
         if missing_os_dbs:
             raise NotImplementedError(
-                f"Cannot enable {system_name=} as it requires {missing_os_dbs=}"
+                f"Cannot enable {system_name=} please set the following env "
+                "variables to enable it:\n "
+                + "\n ".join(
+                    "DIRACX_OS_DB_" + x.__name__.upper() for x in missing_os_dbs
+                )
             )
 
         # Ensure required cacheable sources have been wired, i.e. that the