diff --git a/LCS/Messaging/python/messaging/config.py b/LCS/Messaging/python/messaging/config.py
index a93055b67688106b44cbd4a06adbb57e90d5042b..ac35034e35fdaed0212f7c772089a7d7881aedef 100644
--- a/LCS/Messaging/python/messaging/config.py
+++ b/LCS/Messaging/python/messaging/config.py
@@ -10,15 +10,19 @@ DEFAULT_BROKER = "scu001.control.lofar" if isProductionEnvironment() else \
 
 DEFAULT_PORT = 5675 if isProductionEnvironment() or isTestEnvironment() else 5672
 
-# import the user and password from RabbitMQ 'db'credentials
-try:
-    from lofar.common.dbcredentials import DBCredentials
-    _db_creds = DBCredentials().get("RabbitMQ")
-    DEFAULT_USER = _db_creds.user
-    DEFAULT_PASSWORD = _db_creds.password
-except:
-    DEFAULT_USER = "guest"
-    DEFAULT_PASSWORD = "guest"
+DEFAULT_USER = "guest"
+DEFAULT_PASSWORD = "guest"
+
+if isProductionEnvironment() or isTestEnvironment():
+    # import the user and password from RabbitMQ 'db'credentials
+    try:
+        from lofar.common.dbcredentials import DBCredentials
+        _db_creds = DBCredentials().get("RabbitMQ")
+        DEFAULT_USER = _db_creds.user
+        DEFAULT_PASSWORD = _db_creds.password
+    except:
+        pass
+
 
 # default exchange to use for publishing messages
 DEFAULT_BUSNAME = adaptNameToEnvironment("lofar")