diff --git a/tests/cypress/support/utilities.ts b/tests/cypress/support/utilities.ts
index 450a9f559..e4c4aeffe 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/support/utilities.ts
+++ b/tests/cypress/support/utilities.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ export interface IUser {
   password: string;
 }
 
-const password = process.env.ORCH_DEFAULT_PASSWORD || "ChangeMeOn1stLogin!";
-// Cypress.env("ORCH_DEFAULT_PASSWORD")
+const password = Cypress.env("ORCH_DEFAULT_PASSWORD") as string | undefined;
+if (!password) {
+  throw new Error("ORCH_DEFAULT_PASSWORD environment variable must be set");
+}
 
 export const ADMIN_USER: IUser = {
   username: "sample-org-admin",