diff --git a/undercover/db.py b/undercover/db.py
index e37c1b1..75331a9 100644
--- a/undercover/db.py
+++ b/undercover/db.py
@@ -27,13 +27,20 @@ class UserWithHash:
     password_hash: str
 
 
+host = os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_HOST')
+db_name = os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_DBNAME')
+port = os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_PORT')
+user = os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_USER')
+
+db_available = host and db_name and port and user and os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_PASSWORD')
+
 def connect():
     return psycopg.connect(
-        host=os.environ['UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_HOST'],
-        dbname=os.environ['UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_DBNAME'],
-        port=os.environ['UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_PORT'],
-        user=os.environ['UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_USER'],
-        password=os.environ['UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_PASSWORD'])
+        host=host,
+        dbname=db_name,
+        port=port,
+        user=user,
+        password=os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_POSTGRES_PASSWORD'))
 
 
 def connected(action):
diff --git a/undercover/routes.py b/undercover/routes.py
index afa69b8..72bd057 100644
--- a/undercover/routes.py
+++ b/undercover/routes.py
@@ -71,6 +71,17 @@ class CLForm(Form):
     )
 
 
+def render_index(form=CLForm(), error=None, status=200, letter_errors=None):
+    return make_response(
+        render_template(
+            'writing.jinja2',
+            form=form,
+            username=session.get('username'),
+            error=error,
+            letter_errors=letter_errors,
+        ), status)
+
+
 @writing_blueprint.route('/login', methods=['POST', 'GET'])
 def login():
     if request.method == 'POST':
@@ -78,12 +89,7 @@ def login():
         if db.login(username, request.form['password']):
             session['username'] = username
             return redirect('/')
-        return make_response(
-            render_template(
-                'writing.jinja2',
-                form=CLForm(),
-                error="Invalid username or password"
-            ), 401)
+        return render_index(error="Invalid username or password", status=401)
 
     return '''
         <form method="post">
@@ -123,11 +129,7 @@ def index_get():
             form.skillTypes.data = data['skillTypes']
             form.username.data = data['username']
 
-    return render_template(
-        'writing.jinja2',
-        form=form,
-        username=session.get('username')
-    )
+    return render_index(form=form)
 
 
 @writing_blueprint.route('/create_account', methods=['GET'])
@@ -141,10 +143,10 @@ def create_account():
     try:
         validate_email(email_address, check_deliverability=True)
     except EmailNotValidError as e:
-        return make_response(render_template('writing.jinja2', form=CLForm(), error=str(e)), 401)
+        return render_index(error=str(e), status=401)
 
     if db.get_user(email_address):
-        return make_response(render_template('writing.jinja2', form=CLForm(), error="A user with that email already exists!"), 401)
+        return render_index(error="A user with that email already exists!", status=401)
 
     db.add_user(email_address, request.form['password'])
     session['username'] = email_address
@@ -241,17 +243,10 @@ def index_post():
 
         (resp, errors) = data.generate_pdf()
         if errors:
-            resp = make_response(render_template(
-                'writing.jinja2',
-                form=form,
-                letter_errors=errors,
-            ))
+            resp = render_index(form=form, letter_errors=errors)
         # Save entered data as cookies on user's machine
         for pair in data.get_pairs():
             resp.set_cookie(pair[0], urllib.parse.quote(pair[1]))
         return resp
 
-    return render_template(
-        'writing.jinja2',
-        form=form,
-    )
+    return render_index(form=form)