diff --git a/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/Metrics.scala b/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/Metrics.scala
index 5eddd05fee..926fe725fd 100644
--- a/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/Metrics.scala
+++ b/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/Metrics.scala
@@ -135,8 +135,12 @@ object Metrics {
       reporter.toLowerCase match {
         case "otel" | "opentelemetry" =>
           if (metricsEnabled) {
-            val metricReader = OtelMetricsReporter.buildOtelMetricReader()
-            val openTelemetry = OtelMetricsReporter.buildOpenTelemetryClient(metricReader)
+            val maybeMetricReader = OtelMetricsReporter.buildOtelMetricReader()
+            val openTelemetry = maybeMetricReader
+              .map { metricReader =>
+                OtelMetricsReporter.buildOpenTelemetryClient(metricReader)
+              }
+              .getOrElse(OpenTelemetry.noop())
             new OtelMetricsReporter(openTelemetry)
           } else {
             new OtelMetricsReporter(OpenTelemetry.noop())
diff --git a/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/OtelMetricsReporter.scala b/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/OtelMetricsReporter.scala
index 1f75b1e19c..7fef3c36c1 100644
--- a/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/OtelMetricsReporter.scala
+++ b/online/src/main/scala/ai/chronon/online/metrics/OtelMetricsReporter.scala
@@ -87,29 +87,31 @@ object OtelMetricsReporter {
 
   val MetricsReaderDefault = "http"
   val MetricsReaderPrometheus = "prometheus"
-  val MetricsExporterUrlDefault = "http://localhost:4318"
   val MetricsExporterInterval = "PT15s"
   val MetricsExporterPrometheusPortDefault = "8905"
 
-  def getExporterUrl: String = {
-    System.getProperty(MetricsExporterUrlKey, MetricsExporterUrlDefault)
+  def getExporterUrl: Option[String] = {
+    Option(System.getProperty(MetricsExporterUrlKey))
   }
 
-  def buildOtelMetricReader(): MetricReader = {
+  def buildOtelMetricReader(): Option[MetricReader] = {
     val metricReader = System.getProperty(MetricsReader, MetricsReaderDefault)
     metricReader.toLowerCase match {
       case MetricsReaderDefault =>
-        val exporterUrl = getExporterUrl + "/v1/metrics"
+        getExporterUrl.map { url =>
+          val exporterUrl = url + "/v1/metrics"
+          val metricExporter = OtlpHttpMetricExporter.builder.setEndpoint(exporterUrl).build
+          // Configure periodic metric reader// Configure periodic metric reader
+          PeriodicMetricReader.builder(metricExporter).setInterval(Duration.parse(MetricsExporterInterval)).build
+        }
 
-        val metricExporter = OtlpHttpMetricExporter.builder.setEndpoint(exporterUrl).build
-        // Configure periodic metric reader// Configure periodic metric reader
-        PeriodicMetricReader.builder(metricExporter).setInterval(Duration.parse(MetricsExporterInterval)).build
       case MetricsReaderPrometheus =>
         val prometheusPort =
           System.getProperty(MetricsExporterPrometheusPortKey, MetricsExporterPrometheusPortDefault).toInt
-        PrometheusHttpServer.builder
-          .setPort(prometheusPort)
-          .build
+        Some(
+          PrometheusHttpServer.builder
+            .setPort(prometheusPort)
+            .build)
       case _ =>
         throw new IllegalArgumentException(s"Unknown metrics reader (only http / prometheus supported): $metricReader")
     }
diff --git a/service_commons/src/main/java/ai/chronon/service/ChrononServiceLauncher.java b/service_commons/src/main/java/ai/chronon/service/ChrononServiceLauncher.java
index 5c39d30e68..345f7aa346 100644
--- a/service_commons/src/main/java/ai/chronon/service/ChrononServiceLauncher.java
+++ b/service_commons/src/main/java/ai/chronon/service/ChrononServiceLauncher.java
@@ -27,15 +27,16 @@ public void beforeStartingVertx(VertxOptions options) {
         boolean enableMetrics = Optional.ofNullable(System.getProperty(Metrics.MetricsEnabled()))
                 .map(Boolean::parseBoolean)
                 .orElse(false);
+        boolean isUrlDefined = OtelMetricsReporter.getExporterUrl().isDefined();
 
-        if (enableMetrics) {
+        if (enableMetrics && isUrlDefined) {
             initializeMetrics(options);
         }
     }
 
     private void initializeMetrics(VertxOptions options) {
         String serviceName = "ai.chronon";
-        String exporterUrl = OtelMetricsReporter.getExporterUrl() + "/v1/metrics";
+        String exporterUrl = OtelMetricsReporter.getExporterUrl().get() + "/v1/metrics";
         String exportInterval = OtelMetricsReporter.MetricsExporterInterval();
 
         // Configure OTLP using Micrometer's built-in registry