diff --git a/beszel/internal/agent/agent.go b/beszel/internal/agent/agent.go
index fe04135..80993e6 100644
--- a/beszel/internal/agent/agent.go
+++ b/beszel/internal/agent/agent.go
@@ -95,11 +95,13 @@ func (a *Agent) gatherStats(sessionID string) *system.CombinedData {
 	}
 	slog.Debug("System stats", "data", cachedData)
 
-	if containerStats, err := a.dockerManager.getDockerStats(); err == nil {
-		cachedData.Containers = containerStats
-		slog.Debug("Docker stats", "data", cachedData.Containers)
-	} else {
-		slog.Debug("Docker stats", "err", err)
+	if a.dockerManager != nil {
+		if containerStats, err := a.dockerManager.getDockerStats(); err == nil {
+			cachedData.Containers = containerStats
+			slog.Debug("Docker stats", "data", cachedData.Containers)
+		} else {
+			slog.Debug("Docker stats", "err", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	cachedData.Stats.ExtraFs = make(map[string]*system.FsStats)
diff --git a/beszel/internal/agent/docker.go b/beszel/internal/agent/docker.go
index 719299f..5ef4763 100644
--- a/beszel/internal/agent/docker.go
+++ b/beszel/internal/agent/docker.go
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ func newDockerManager(a *Agent) *dockerManager {
 	dockerHost, exists := GetEnv("DOCKER_HOST")
 	if exists {
 		slog.Info("DOCKER_HOST", "host", dockerHost)
+		// return nil if set to empty string
+		if dockerHost == "" {
+			return nil
+		}
 	} else {
 		dockerHost = getDockerHost()
 	}