diff --git a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/connection_tester.rs b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/connection_tester.rs
index fe7ded3e5b..570d94f986 100644
--- a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/connection_tester.rs
+++ b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/connection_tester.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ async fn test_nyxd_connection(
             );
             code == 18
         }
-        Ok(Err(error @ NyxdError::NoContractAddressAvailable)) => {
+        Ok(Err(error @ NyxdError::NoContractAddressAvailable(_))) => {
             log::debug!("Checking: nyxd url: {url}: {}: {error}", "failed".red());
             false
         }
diff --git a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/error.rs b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/error.rs
index 2a82773edb..df4d8f0a49 100644
--- a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/error.rs
+++ b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/error.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use std::{io, time::Duration};
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum NyxdError {
     #[error("No contract address is available to perform the call")]
-    NoContractAddressAvailable,
+    NoContractAddressAvailable(String),
 
     #[error(transparent)]
     WalletError(#[from] DirectSecp256k1HdWalletError),
diff --git a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/mod.rs b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/mod.rs
index c683075162..f7629abbd2 100644
--- a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/mod.rs
+++ b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/mod.rs
@@ -316,11 +316,9 @@ impl<C> NyxdClient<C> {
         self.config.coconut_dkg_contract_address.as_ref().unwrap()
     }
 
-    pub fn service_provider_contract_address(&self) -> &AccountId {
-        self.config
-            .service_provider_contract_address
-            .as_ref()
-            .expect("no service provider contract address set")
+    // The service provider directory contract is optional, so we return an Option not a Result
+    pub fn service_provider_contract_address(&self) -> Option<&AccountId> {
+        self.config.service_provider_contract_address.as_ref()
     }
 
     pub fn set_simulated_gas_multiplier(&mut self, multiplier: f32) {
diff --git a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_query_client.rs b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_query_client.rs
index d5042acf8b..3a4fb057f5 100644
--- a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_query_client.rs
+++ b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_query_client.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,14 @@ where
         for<'a> T: Deserialize<'a>,
     {
         self.client
-            .query_contract_smart(self.service_provider_contract_address(), &query)
+            .query_contract_smart(
+                self.service_provider_contract_address().ok_or(
+                    NyxdError::NoContractAddressAvailable(
+                        "service provider directory contract".to_string(),
+                    ),
+                )?,
+                &query,
+            )
             .await
     }
 }
diff --git a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_signing_client.rs b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_signing_client.rs
index 4e76cf913e..722097a99b 100644
--- a/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_signing_client.rs
+++ b/common/client-libs/validator-client/src/nyxd/traits/sp_directory_signing_client.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ where
         self.client
             .execute(
                 self.address(),
-                self.service_provider_contract_address(),
+                self.service_provider_contract_address().ok_or(
+                    NyxdError::NoContractAddressAvailable(
+                        "service provider directory contract".to_string(),
+                    ),
+                )?,
                 &msg,
                 fee,
                 memo,
diff --git a/common/network-defaults/src/lib.rs b/common/network-defaults/src/lib.rs
index 02b10ae69c..b966d61ee7 100644
--- a/common/network-defaults/src/lib.rs
+++ b/common/network-defaults/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@
 
 use crate::var_names::{DEPRECATED_API_VALIDATOR, DEPRECATED_NYMD_VALIDATOR, NYM_API, NYXD};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::{env::var, ops::Not, path::PathBuf};
+use std::{
+    env::{var, VarError},
+    ffi::OsStr,
+    ops::Not,
+    path::PathBuf,
+};
 use url::Url;
 
 pub mod mainnet;
@@ -69,6 +74,14 @@ impl NymNetworkDetails {
     }
 
     pub fn new_from_env() -> Self {
+        fn get_optional_env<K: AsRef<OsStr>>(env: K) -> Option<String> {
+            match var(env) {
+                Ok(var) => Some(var),
+                Err(VarError::NotPresent) => None,
+                err => panic!("Unable to set: {:?}", err),
+            }
+        }
+
         NymNetworkDetails::new_empty()
             .with_bech32_account_prefix(
                 var(var_names::BECH32_PREFIX).expect("bech32 prefix not set"),
@@ -118,9 +131,8 @@ impl NymNetworkDetails {
             .with_coconut_dkg_contract(Some(
                 var(var_names::COCONUT_DKG_CONTRACT_ADDRESS).expect("coconut dkg contract not set"),
             ))
-            .with_service_provider_directory_contract(Some(
-                var(var_names::SERVICE_PROVIDER_DIRECTORY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS)
-                    .expect("service provider contract not set"),
+            .with_service_provider_directory_contract(get_optional_env(
+                var_names::SERVICE_PROVIDER_DIRECTORY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS,
             ))
     }
 
diff --git a/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock b/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
index 102a760698..1d13cbd89a 100644
--- a/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
+++ b/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
@@ -3578,6 +3578,14 @@ dependencies = [
  "pem",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "nym-service-provider-directory-common"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "cosmwasm-std",
+ "serde",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-service-providers-common"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -3826,6 +3834,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-mixnet-contract-common",
  "nym-multisig-contract-common",
  "nym-network-defaults",
+ "nym-service-provider-directory-common",
  "nym-vesting-contract",
  "nym-vesting-contract-common",
  "prost",