diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/services/store/schema.py b/src/backend/langflow/services/store/schema.py
index 4f11ad262..7614b9609 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/services/store/schema.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/services/store/schema.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ class ListComponentResponse(BaseModel):
     def tags_to_list(cls, v):
         # Check if all values are have id and name
         # if so, return v else transform to TagResponse
+        if not v:
+            return v
         if all(["id" in tag and "name" in tag for tag in v]):
             return v
         else:
diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/services/store/service.py b/src/backend/langflow/services/store/service.py
index c0aef8be3..f70c7367d 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/services/store/service.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/services/store/service.py
@@ -168,8 +168,10 @@ class StoreService(Service):
 
         # Only public components or the ones created by the user
         # check for "public" or "Public"
+        if filter_by_user and not api_key:
+            raise ValueError("No API key provided")
 
-        if filter_by_user:
+        if filter_by_user and api_key:
             user_data = self._get(
                 f"{self.base_url}/users/me", api_key, params={"fields": "id"}
             )