diff --git a/flank-scripts/build.gradle.kts b/flank-scripts/build.gradle.kts
index 7c164847ed..856a0dd770 100644
--- a/flank-scripts/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/flank-scripts/build.gradle.kts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ shadowJar.apply {
     }
 }
 // <breaking change>.<feature added>.<fix/minor change>
-version = "1.9.6"
+version = "1.9.7"
 group = "com.github.flank"
 
 application {
diff --git a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/data/github/GithubApi.kt b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/data/github/GithubApi.kt
index 5b66d6c5f2..b4c6d4a567 100644
--- a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/data/github/GithubApi.kt
+++ b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/data/github/GithubApi.kt
@@ -205,10 +205,12 @@ fun Request.appendGitHubHeaders(githubToken: String, contentType: String = "appl
 fun githubRepo(
     token: String,
     repoPath: String
-): Repo =
-    RtGithub(token)
-        .repos()
-        .get(Coordinates.Simple(repoPath))
+): Repo = createGitHubClient(token).repos().get(Coordinates.Simple(repoPath))
+
+private fun createGitHubClient(gitHubToken: String) = when {
+    gitHubToken.isEmpty() -> RtGithub()
+    else -> RtGithub(gitHubToken)
+}
 
 fun Repo.getRelease(tag: String): Release.Smart? =
     Releases.Smart(releases()).run {
diff --git a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/Helpers.kt b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/Helpers.kt
index 5115d399f0..c47eaff8b8 100644
--- a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/Helpers.kt
+++ b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/Helpers.kt
@@ -17,4 +17,5 @@ val File.testArtifacts: File get() = resolve(TEST_ARTIFACTS_PATH).apply { if (!e
 
 fun File.testArtifacts(branch: String = currentGitBranch()): File = testArtifacts.resolve(branch)
 
-internal fun testArtifactsRepo(): Repo = githubRepo(getEnv(GITHUB_TOKEN_ENV_KEY), flankTestArtifactsRepository)
+internal fun testArtifactsRepo(): Repo =
+    githubRepo(getEnv(GITHUB_TOKEN_ENV_KEY, ""), flankTestArtifactsRepository)
diff --git a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/utils/Env.kt b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/utils/Env.kt
index 68ec960e1d..9021796828 100644
--- a/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/utils/Env.kt
+++ b/flank-scripts/src/main/kotlin/flank/scripts/utils/Env.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package flank.scripts.utils
 
-fun getEnv(key: String): String =
-    System.getenv(key) ?: throw RuntimeException("Environment variable '$key' not found!")
-
+fun getEnv(key: String, default: String? = null): String =
+    System.getenv(key) ?: default ?: throw RuntimeException("Environment variable '$key' not found!")
 val isWindows: Boolean = System.getProperty("os.name").startsWith("Windows")
diff --git a/flank-scripts/src/test/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/TestArtifactsRepoTest.kt b/flank-scripts/src/test/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/TestArtifactsRepoTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..66adf64bcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flank-scripts/src/test/kotlin/flank/scripts/ops/testartifacts/TestArtifactsRepoTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package flank.scripts.ops.testartifacts
+
+import flank.scripts.data.github.getRelease
+import flank.scripts.utils.getEnv
+import io.mockk.every
+import io.mockk.mockkStatic
+import org.junit.Test
+
+class TestArtifactsRepoTest {
+
+    @Test
+    fun `should not throw when gh token not set`() {
+        mockkStatic(::getEnv)
+        every { getEnv(any(), any()) } returns ""
+        testArtifactsRepo().getRelease("master")
+            ?.body()?.toLong()
+    }
+}