diff --git a/apps/web/.sample.env b/apps/web/.sample.env
index b91d8d9..b802899 100644
--- a/apps/web/.sample.env
+++ b/apps/web/.sample.env
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY=xxx
\ No newline at end of file
+AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY=xxx
+AI_GATEWAY_ENABLED=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/prompt-patterns/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/prompt-patterns/route.ts
index 9949e39..b8a488a 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/prompt-patterns/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/prompt-patterns/route.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ const MODEL_ID = "openai/gpt-5.4-mini";
 export const maxDuration = 30;
 
 export async function POST(req: Request) {
+  if (process.env.AI_GATEWAY_ENABLED !== "true") {
+    return Response.json(
+      { error: "AI gateway is currently disabled." },
+      { status: 503 }
+    );
+  }
+
   const {
     messages,
     pattern,