diff --git a/scripts/chores.py b/scripts/chores.py
index deebe4f..ec8efdf 100644
--- a/scripts/chores.py
+++ b/scripts/chores.py
@@ -11,18 +11,21 @@ FORGEJO_URL = os.environ.get("FORGEJO_URL", "https://git.private.coffee")
 
 try:
     TOKEN = os.environ["FORGEJO_TOKEN"]
-except KeyError:
+    assert TOKEN
+except (KeyError, AssertionError):
     logging.error("FORGEJO_TOKEN environment variable is required")
     exit(1)
 
-ASSIGNEES = os.environ.get("CHORES_ASSIGNEES", "").split()
-REPO_OWNER = os.environ.get("CHORES_REPO_OWNER", "PrivateCoffee")
-REPO_NAME = os.environ.get("CHORES_REPO_NAME", "chores")
-EXPIRY_DAYS = int(os.environ.get("CHORES_EXPIRY_DAYS", 2))
-CHORES = os.environ.get(
-    "CHORES_TEXT", "Looks like you forgot to set the CHORES_TEXT environment variable."
+ASSIGNEES = os.environ.get("CHORES_ASSIGNEES").split()
+REPO_OWNER = os.environ.get("CHORES_REPO_OWNER") or "PrivateCoffee"
+REPO_NAME = os.environ.get("CHORES_REPO_NAME") or "chores"
+EXPIRY_DAYS = int(os.environ.get("CHORES_EXPIRY_DAYS") or 2)
+CHORES = (
+    os.environ.get("CHORES_TEXT")
+    or "Looks like you forgot to set the CHORES_TEXT environment variable."
 )
 
+
 due_date = (datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(days=EXPIRY_DAYS)).isoformat()
 
 payload = {