diff --git a/packages/next-utils/package.json b/packages/next-utils/package.json
index 16bcbc3..6e43d3d 100644
--- a/packages/next-utils/package.json
+++ b/packages/next-utils/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@mintel/next-utils",
-  "version": "1.7.1",
+  "version": "1.7.2",
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public",
     "registry": "https://npm.infra.mintel.me"
diff --git a/packages/next-utils/src/env.ts b/packages/next-utils/src/env.ts
index 0836076..062ec52 100644
--- a/packages/next-utils/src/env.ts
+++ b/packages/next-utils/src/env.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,12 @@ export const mintelEnvSchema = {
   INTERNAL_DIRECTUS_URL: z.string().url().optional(),
 };
 
-export function validateMintelEnv<T extends z.ZodRawShape>(schemaExtension: T) {
+export type MintelEnv<T extends z.ZodRawShape = Record<string, never>> =
+  z.infer<z.ZodObject<typeof mintelEnvSchema & T>>;
+
+export function validateMintelEnv<
+  T extends z.ZodRawShape = Record<string, never>,
+>(schemaExtension: T = {} as T): MintelEnv<T> {
   const fullSchema = z.object({
     ...mintelEnvSchema,
     ...schemaExtension,
@@ -67,8 +72,8 @@ export function validateMintelEnv<T extends z.ZodRawShape>(schemaExtension: T) {
       console.warn(
         "⚠️ Some environment variables are missing during build, but skipping strict validation.",
       );
-      // Return process.env casted to ensure types match, even if data is missing during build
-      return process.env as unknown as z.infer<typeof fullSchema>;
+      // Return process.env casted to the full schema type to unblock builds
+      return process.env as unknown as MintelEnv<T>;
     }
 
     console.error(
@@ -78,5 +83,5 @@ export function validateMintelEnv<T extends z.ZodRawShape>(schemaExtension: T) {
     throw new Error("Invalid environment variables");
   }
 
-  return result.data;
+  return result.data as MintelEnv<T>;
 }