modelApiKey is required when using BROWSERBASE environment

[snakecased]

Bug Report: modelApiKey is required when using BROWSERBASE environment

Before submitting an issue, please:

• Check the documentation for relevant information
• Search existing issues to avoid duplicates

Environment Information

Stagehand:

• Language/SDK: TypeScript
• Stagehand version: [not specified]

AI Provider:

• Provider: Google
• Model: [not specified]

Issue Description

When using Stagehand with the BROWSERBASE environment setting, the application throws an error stating "modelApiKey is required" even though the necessary API keys are configured in environment variables. The error does not occur when switching to the LOCAL environment.

Error executing computer use agent: StagehandAPIError: modelApiKey is required
    at StagehandAPIClient.<anonymous> (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:39869:15)
    at Generator.next (<anonymous>)
    at /Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:80:61
    at new Promise (<anonymous>)
    at __async (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:64:10)
    at StagehandAPIClient.init (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:39857:12)
    at _V3.<anonymous> (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:40802:81)
    at Generator.next (<anonymous>)
    at /Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:80:61
    at new Promise (<anonymous>)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Set up environment variables for BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID, BROWSERBASE_API_KEY, and GOOGLE_API_KEY
2. Configure Stagehand with env: "BROWSERBASE"
3. Run the application
4. Observe the error about missing modelApiKey

Minimal Reproduction Code

// Minimal reproduction code
import { Stagehand } from '@browserbase/stagehand';

const stagehand = new Stagehand({
  env: "BROWSERBASE",
  // Other configuration options
});

// Code that triggers the error
await stagehand.init();

Error Messages / Log trace

Error executing computer use agent: StagehandAPIError: modelApiKey is required
    at StagehandAPIClient.<anonymous> (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:39869:15)
    at Generator.next (<anonymous>)
    at /Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:80:61
    at new Promise (<anonymous>)
    at __async (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:64:10)
    at StagehandAPIClient.init (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:39857:12)
    at _V3.<anonymous> (/Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:40802:81)
    at Generator.next (<anonymous>)
    at /Users/[USERNAME]/Documents/[PROJECT]/node_modules/@browserbasehq/stagehand/dist/index.js:80:61
    at new Promise (<anonymous>)
[2025-11-17 14:40:19.186 +0800] INFO: Using Browserbase credentials
    category: "init"
[2025-11-17 14:40:19.186 +0800] INFO: Starting browserbase session
    category: "init"
Session closed successfully

Screenshots / Videos

N/A

Related Issues

Are there any related issues or PRs?

https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand/issues?q=modelApiKey%20is%20required

Additional Context

The error doesn't occur when switching to "LOCAL" instead of "BROWSERBASE" environment.

Environment variables configured:

• BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID
• BROWSERBASE_API_KEY
• GOOGLE_API_KEY