diff --git a/app/main/views/templates.py b/app/main/views/templates.py
index 381117f9d..b6b1fb2c7 100644
--- a/app/main/views/templates.py
+++ b/app/main/views/templates.py
@@ -603,7 +603,12 @@ def edit_service_template(service_id, template_id):
 
         new_template = get_template(new_template_data, current_service)
         template_change = get_template(template, current_service).compare_to(new_template)
-        if template_change.placeholders_added and not request.form.get('confirm'):
+
+        if (
+            template_change.placeholders_added and
+            not request.form.get('confirm') and
+            current_service.api_keys
+        ):
             example_column_headings = (
                 first_column_headings[new_template.template_type] + list(new_template.placeholders)
             )
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_templates.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_templates.py
index 90f4cdfd0..9c6ac9968 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_templates.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_templates.py
@@ -1328,6 +1328,7 @@ def test_should_redirect_to_one_off_if_template_type_is_letter(
 def test_should_redirect_when_saving_a_template(
     client_request,
     mock_get_service_template,
+    mock_get_api_keys,
     mock_update_service_template,
     fake_uuid,
 ):
@@ -1499,6 +1500,7 @@ def test_should_show_interstitial_when_making_breaking_change(
     client_request,
     mock_update_service_template,
     mock_get_user_by_email,
+    mock_get_api_keys,
     fake_uuid,
     mocker,
     template_mock,