diff --git a/frontend/src/BlockList.tsx b/frontend/src/BlockList.tsx
index abbd0bb..ee77133 100644
--- a/frontend/src/BlockList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/BlockList.tsx
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ import axios from "axios";
 export default function BlockList() {
   let [blocks, setBlocks] = useState([]);
 
-  let backendUrl: string =
-    process.env.BACKEND_ADDRESS || "http://localhost:42000/";
+  let backendUrl = process.env.BACKEND_ADDRESS!;
 
   if (backendUrl === undefined) {
     throw Error("backend address not specified in ENV variable");