diff --git a/src/plugins/persistence/couch/scripts/lockObjects.mjs b/src/plugins/persistence/couch/scripts/lockObjects.mjs
index 1a7305ca53..f7edf69459 100644
--- a/src/plugins/persistence/couch/scripts/lockObjects.mjs
+++ b/src/plugins/persistence/couch/scripts/lockObjects.mjs
@@ -2,15 +2,8 @@ import http from 'http';
 import nano from 'nano';
 import { parseArgs } from 'util';
 
-const COUCH_URL = process.env.OPENMCT_COUCH_URL;
-const COUCH_DB_NAME = process.env.OPENMCT_DATABASE_NAME;
-
-if (!COUCH_URL || !COUCH_DB_NAME) {
-  console.error(
-    'Error: Environment variables OPENMCT_COUCH_URL and OPENMCT_DATABASE_NAME must be set.'
-  );
-  process.exit(1);
-}
+const COUCH_URL = process.env.OPENMCT_COUCH_URL || 'http://127.0.0.1:5984';
+const COUCH_DB_NAME = process.env.OPENMCT_DATABASE_NAME || 'openmct';
 
 const {
   values: { couchUrl, database, lock, unlock, startObjectKeystring, user, pass }