diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/firebase.ts b/frontend/src/ts/firebase.ts
index f3fcfec57..c2d286d60 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/firebase.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/firebase.ts
@@ -2,17 +2,22 @@
 import { FirebaseApp, initializeApp } from "firebase/app";
 import { getAuth, Auth as AuthType } from "firebase/auth";
 import { firebaseConfig } from "./constants/firebase-config"; // eslint-disable-line require-path-exists/exists
+import * as Notifications from "./elements/notifications";
 
 // Initialize Firebase
-export let app: FirebaseApp;
-export let Auth: AuthType;
+export let app: FirebaseApp | undefined;
+export let Auth: AuthType | undefined;
 
 try {
   app = initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
   Auth = getAuth(app);
+  // throw new Error("Firebase is not initialized");
 } catch (e) {
+  app = undefined;
+  Auth = undefined;
   console.error(e);
-  $("body").text(
-    "Failed to initialize Firebase. Are you sure you have the correct config in the firebase-config.ts file?"
-  );
+  Notifications.addBanner("Offline mode", 0, undefined, true);
+  // $("body").text(
+  //   "Failed to initialize Firebase. Are you sure you have the correct config in the firebase-config.ts file?"
+  // );
 }