diff --git a/backend/src/services/apiServer.ts b/backend/src/services/apiServer.ts
index 391090e..d483c2c 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/apiServer.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/apiServer.ts
@@ -130,15 +130,6 @@ const normalizeNewsSymbolsQuery = (value: unknown): string => {
     return symbols.join(',');
 };
 
-const getConfiguredFmpApiKey = (): string => {
-    const apiKey = config.FMP_API_KEY.trim();
-    if (!apiKey || apiKey.toLowerCase() === 'demo') {
-        throw new MissingServiceConfigError('FMP_API_KEY is required for research and screener endpoints');
-    }
-
-    return apiKey;
-};
-
 async function getUserFmpApiKey(userId: string): Promise<string> {
     const profile = await getCurrentUserProfile(userId);
     const profileApiKey = String(profile.FMP_API_KEY || '').trim();
@@ -146,7 +137,7 @@ async function getUserFmpApiKey(userId: string): Promise<string> {
         return profileApiKey;
     }
 
-    return getConfiguredFmpApiKey();
+    throw new MissingServiceConfigError('User FMP API key is required for research and screener endpoints');
 }
 
 class MissingServiceConfigError extends Error {