diff --git a/dash/tests.py b/dash/tests.py
index 770d4f5..912c202 100644
--- a/dash/tests.py
+++ b/dash/tests.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from payments import get_payment_model, RedirectNeeded, PaymentStatus
 from accounts.tests import login_util, register_util
 
 from .models import InstanceConfiguration, Instance
-from .utils import create_instance, VmErrors, VmException
+from .utils import create_instance, sanitize_vm_name, VmErrors, VmException
 
 
 def create_configurations(t: TestCase):
@@ -198,11 +198,21 @@ class CreateInstance(TestCase):
         register_util(t=self, username="createinstance_user")
         create_configurations(t=self)
 
+
+    def test_sanitize_vm_name(self):
+        self.assertEqual(sanitize_vm_name(vm_name="LOWERname"), "lowername")
+
+        with self.assertRaises(VmException):
+            sanitize_vm_name(vm_name="12345452131324234234234234")
+
+        with self.assertRaises(VmException):
+            sanitize_vm_name(vm_name="122342$#34234")
+
+
     @override_settings(
         HOSTEA=infra_custom_config(test_name="test_create_instance_util")
     )
     def test_create_instance_util(self):
-        vm_name = "test_create_instance_renders"
         configuration = self.instance_config[0].name
 
         with self.assertRaises(VmException):
@@ -212,13 +222,6 @@ class CreateInstance(TestCase):
                 user=self.user,
             )
 
-        with self.assertRaises(VmException):
-            create_instance(
-                vm_name="122342$#34234",
-                configuration_name=configuration,
-                user=self.user,
-            )
-
     @override_settings(
         HOSTEA=infra_custom_config(test_name="test_create_instance_renders")
     )
diff --git a/dash/utils.py b/dash/utils.py
index b4b2652..52e298a 100644
--- a/dash/utils.py
+++ b/dash/utils.py
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@ class VmException(Exception):
         return self.error
 
 
-def create_instance(vm_name: str, configuration_name: str, user: User) -> Instance:
+def sanitize_vm_name(vm_name: str) -> str:
     """
-    Create instance view
+    Sanity checks and normalization of the vm name
     """
 
+    vm_name = vm_name.lower()
+
     if len(vm_name) > 20:
         raise VmException(code=VmErrors.NAME_TOO_LONG)
     if not str.isalnum(vm_name):
@@ -56,6 +58,16 @@ def create_instance(vm_name: str, configuration_name: str, user: User) -> Instan
     if Instance.objects.filter(name=vm_name).exists():
         raise VmException(code=VmErrors.NAME_EXISTS)
 
+    return vm_name
+
+
+def create_instance(vm_name: str, configuration_name: str, user: User) -> Instance:
+    """
+    Create instance view
+    """
+
+    vm_name = sanitize_vm_name(vm_name)
+
     if not InstanceConfiguration.objects.filter(name=configuration_name).exists():
         raise VmException(code=VmErrors.NO_CONFIG)
 
diff --git a/dashboard/local_settings.ci.py b/dashboard/local_settings.ci.py
index 5bbf9ac..098879f 100644
--- a/dashboard/local_settings.ci.py
+++ b/dashboard/local_settings.ci.py
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ PAYMENT_VARIANTS = {
     "stripe": (
         "payments.stripe.StripeProvider",  # please don't change this
         {
-            "secret_key": env.get_value("STRIPE_SECRET_KEY"),
-            "public_key": env.get_value("STRIPE_PUBLIC_KEY"),
+            "secret_key": env.get_value("STRIPE_SECRET_KEY", default="UNSET"),
+            "public_key": env.get_value("STRIPE_PUBLIC_KEY", default="UNSET"),
         },
     )
 }