diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 81642b4..deb5f98 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ app.use(express_1.default.json());
 app.use(express_1.default.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
 const validateSecret = (req, res, next) => {
     const requestSecret = req.headers['x-api-secret'] || req.body.secret;
+    if (req.method === 'GET' && req.path === '/') {
+        next();
+    }
     if (!requestSecret || requestSecret !== API_SECRET) {
         return res.status(401).json({
             error: 'Unauthorized',
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 6c116f0..8217149 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ const validateSecret = (
 ) => {
   const requestSecret = req.headers['x-api-secret'] || req.body.secret;
 
+  if (req.method === 'GET' && req.path === '/') {
+    next();
+  }
+
   if (!requestSecret || requestSecret !== API_SECRET) {
     return res.status(401).json({
       error: 'Unauthorized',
diff --git a/test/ping.integration.test.ts b/test/ping.integration.test.ts
index 1c7e268..07441d1 100644
--- a/test/ping.integration.test.ts
+++ b/test/ping.integration.test.ts
@@ -148,10 +148,8 @@ describe('/ping input parameters', () => {
 });
 
 describe('/ health check', () => {
-  const API_SECRET = process.env.API_SECRET || 'default-secret-key';
-
   it('should return a 200 status', async () => {
-    const res = await request(app).get('/').set('x-api-secret', API_SECRET);
+    const res = await request(app).get('/');
     expect(res.status).toBe(200);
     expect(res.body.status).toBe('OK');
     expect(res.body.supportedChains).toContain('Solana');