diff --git a/logtide_sdk/_base_client.py b/logtide_sdk/_base_client.py
index 1452744..2e5405a 100644
--- a/logtide_sdk/_base_client.py
+++ b/logtide_sdk/_base_client.py
@@ -14,11 +14,6 @@ class BaseClient:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, options: ClientOptions) -> None:
-        if not options.local_mode and not options.api_key:
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                f"Cannot instantiate {self.__class__.__name__} without api_key with disabled local_mode"
-            )
-
         self.options = options
 
         self._payload_limits = options.payload_limits or PayloadLimitsOptions()
diff --git a/logtide_sdk/models.py b/logtide_sdk/models.py
index 3678d9b..3479a81 100644
--- a/logtide_sdk/models.py
+++ b/logtide_sdk/models.py
@@ -87,9 +87,6 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
             self.api_key = self.api_key if self.api_key else dsn_parts.api_key
             self.api_url = self.api_url if self.api_url else dsn_parts.api_url
 
-        if not self.api_url:
-            raise ValueError("api_url must be provided")
-
         if not 0.0 <= self.sample_rate <= 1.0:
             raise ValueError("sample_rate must be between 0.0 and 1.0")
 
@@ -102,8 +99,12 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
                 "Local mode cannot be positive value other than True or 'if_unset_api_key'"
             )
 
-        if not self.local_mode and not self.api_key:
-            raise ValueError("api_key must be provided to options, unless local_mode configured")
+        # Local mode never reaches the network, so it needs no endpoint configured.
+        if not self.local_mode:
+            if not self.api_url:
+                raise ValueError("api_url must be provided")
+            if not self.api_key:
+                raise ValueError("api_key must be provided to options, unless local_mode configured")
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 4895fb0..2fde95b 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ def test_client_options_ignores_unset_api_key_if_set_unset_or_local_mode(
     ClientOptions(api_url="https://any.apiurl.dev", api_key=api_key, local_mode=local_mode)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("local_mode", ["if_unset_api_key", True])
+def test_client_options_needs_no_url_or_key_in_local_mode(
+    local_mode: Literal["if_unset_api_key"] | bool,
+) -> None:
+    opts = ClientOptions(local_mode=local_mode)
+
+    assert opts.api_url is None
+    assert opts.api_key is None
+
+
 def test_client_options_raises_no_api_key_and_without_local_mode():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="api_key must be provided"):
         ClientOptions(api_url="https://somenetwork:8080")