diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index d1a224af..8235bf71 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -3,4 +3,11 @@ CONTOSO_AI_SERVICES_KEY=<YOUR_OPENAI_KEY>
 CONTOSO_SEARCH_ENDPOINT=<YOUR_SEARCH_SERVICE_ENDPOINT>
 CONTOSO_SEARCH_KEY=<YOUR_SEARCH_SERVICE_KEY>
 COSMOS_ENDPOINT=<YOUR_COSMOS_ENDPOINT>
-COSMOS_KEY=<YOUR_COSMOS_KEY>
\ No newline at end of file
+COSMOS_KEY=<YOUR_COSMOS_KEY>
+
+# These connection are for running the intent promotflow
+SUPPORT_ENDPOINT = ""
+SUPPORT_KEY = ""
+
+CHAT_ENDPOINT = ""
+CHAT_KEY = ""
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/connections/create-connections.ipynb b/connections/create-connections.ipynb
index 8161c699..b5cade29 100644
--- a/connections/create-connections.ipynb
+++ b/connections/create-connections.ipynb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     ")\n",
     "from dotenv import load_dotenv\n",
     "\n",
-    "load_dotenv()\n",
+    "load_dotenv(\"../.env.sample\")\n",
     "\n",
     "pf = PFClient()"
    ]
@@ -98,18 +98,23 @@
     "# Create the local contoso-search connection\n",
     "SUPPORT_ENDPOINT = os.environ[\"SUPPORT_ENDPOINT\"]\n",
     "SUPPORT_KEY = os.environ[\"SUPPORT_KEY\"]\n",
-    "connection = CustomConnection(\n",
-    "    name=\"support-endpoint\",\n",
-    "    configs={\n",
-    "        \"api_base\": SUPPORT_ENDPOINT,\n",
-    "    },\n",
-    "    secrets={\"api_key\": SUPPORT_KEY},\n",
-    ")\n",
+    "print(SUPPORT_ENDPOINT)\n",
     "\n",
+    "if(SUPPORT_ENDPOINT == \"\"):\n",
+    "    print(\"Skipping support connection creation, missing environment variables\")\n",
+    "else:\n",
+    "    connection = CustomConnection(\n",
+    "        name=\"support-endpoint\",\n",
+    "        configs={\n",
+    "            \"api_base\": SUPPORT_ENDPOINT,\n",
+    "        },\n",
+    "        secrets={\"api_key\": SUPPORT_KEY},\n",
+    "    )\n",
     "\n",
-    "print(f\"Creating connection {connection.name}...\")\n",
-    "result = pf.connections.create_or_update(connection)\n",
-    "print(result)"
+    "\n",
+    "    print(f\"Creating connection {connection.name}...\")\n",
+    "    result = pf.connections.create_or_update(connection)\n",
+    "    print(result)"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -121,18 +126,22 @@
     "# Create the local contoso-search connection\n",
     "CHAT_ENDPOINT = os.environ[\"CHAT_ENDPOINT\"]\n",
     "CHAT_KEY = os.environ[\"CHAT_KEY\"]\n",
-    "connection = CustomConnection(\n",
-    "    name=\"chat-endpoint\",\n",
-    "    configs={\n",
-    "        \"api_base\": CHAT_ENDPOINT,\n",
-    "    },\n",
-    "    secrets={\"api_key\": CHAT_KEY},\n",
-    ")\n",
     "\n",
+    "if(CHAT_ENDPOINT == \"\"):\n",
+    "    print(\"Skipping chat connection creation, missing environment variables\")\n",
+    "else:\n",
+    "    connection = CustomConnection(\n",
+    "        name=\"chat-endpoint\",\n",
+    "        configs={\n",
+    "            \"api_base\": CHAT_ENDPOINT,\n",
+    "        },\n",
+    "        secrets={\"api_key\": CHAT_KEY},\n",
+    "    )\n",
     "\n",
-    "print(f\"Creating connection {connection.name}...\")\n",
-    "result = pf.connections.create_or_update(connection)\n",
-    "print(result)"
+    "\n",
+    "    print(f\"Creating connection {connection.name}...\")\n",
+    "    result = pf.connections.create_or_update(connection)\n",
+    "    print(result)"
    ]
   }
  ],