diff --git a/src/commands/start_api.py b/src/commands/start_api.py
index cdea782e..21ad75b0 100644
--- a/src/commands/start_api.py
+++ b/src/commands/start_api.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     LOG_PLAIN,
     settings,
 )
-from src.validators.typings import ValidatorsRegistrationMode
+from src.validators.typings import RelayerTypes, ValidatorsRegistrationMode
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -167,6 +167,17 @@
     envvar='LOG_LEVEL',
     help='The log level.',
 )
+@click.option(
+    '--relayer-type',
+    type=click.Choice(
+        [RelayerTypes.DEFAULT, RelayerTypes.DVT],
+        case_sensitive=False,
+    ),
+    default=RelayerTypes.DEFAULT,
+    help='Relayer type.',
+    prompt='Enter the relayer type',
+    envvar='RELAYER_TYPE',
+)
 @click.option(
     '--relayer-endpoint',
     type=str,
@@ -196,6 +207,7 @@ def start_api(
     hot_wallet_password_file: str | None,
     max_fee_per_gas_gwei: int,
     database_dir: str | None,
+    relayer_type: str,
     relayer_endpoint: str,
 ) -> None:
     vault_config = VaultConfig(vault, Path(data_dir))
@@ -225,6 +237,7 @@ def start_api(
         database_dir=database_dir,
         log_level=log_level,
         log_format=log_format,
+        relayer_type=relayer_type,
         relayer_endpoint=relayer_endpoint,
         validators_registration_mode=validators_registration_mode,
     )
diff --git a/src/config/settings.py b/src/config/settings.py
index b8a87555..cf01bbc0 100644
--- a/src/config/settings.py
+++ b/src/config/settings.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from decouple import Choices, Csv
+from decouple import Csv
 from decouple import config as decouple_config
 from web3 import Web3
 from web3.types import ChecksumAddress
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class Settings(metaclass=Singleton):
     sentry_environment: str
     pool_size: int | None
 
+    relayer_type: str
     relayer_endpoint: str
     relayer_timeout: int
     validators_registration_mode: ValidatorsRegistrationMode
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ def set(
         log_level: str | None = None,
         log_format: str | None = None,
         pool_size: int | None = None,
+        relayer_type: str = RelayerTypes.DEFAULT,
         relayer_endpoint: str | None = None,
         validators_registration_mode: ValidatorsRegistrationMode = ValidatorsRegistrationMode.AUTO,
         min_validators_registration: int = DEFAULT_MIN_VALIDATORS_REGISTRATION,
@@ -241,6 +243,7 @@ def set(
         self.consensus_retry_timeout = decouple_config(
             'CONSENSUS_RETRY_TIMEOUT', default=120, cast=int
         )
+        self.relayer_type = relayer_type
         self.relayer_endpoint = relayer_endpoint or ''
         self.relayer_timeout = decouple_config('RELAYER_TIMEOUT', default=10, cast=int)
 
@@ -300,14 +303,3 @@ def is_genesis_vault(self) -> bool:
 LOG_JSON = 'json'
 LOG_FORMATS = [LOG_PLAIN, LOG_JSON]
 LOG_DATE_FORMAT = '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
-
-RELAYER_TYPE: str = decouple_config(
-    'RELAYER_TYPE',
-    default=RelayerTypes.DEFAULT,
-    cast=Choices(
-        [
-            RelayerTypes.DEFAULT,
-            RelayerTypes.DVT,
-        ]
-    ),
-)
diff --git a/src/validators/relayer.py b/src/validators/relayer.py
index 5f097d10..57cff027 100644
--- a/src/validators/relayer.py
+++ b/src/validators/relayer.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from sw_utils.common import urljoin
 from web3 import Web3
 
-from src.config.settings import RELAYER_TYPE, settings
+from src.config.settings import settings
 from src.validators.exceptions import MissingDepositDataValidatorsException
 from src.validators.execution import (
     get_validators_from_deposit_data,
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ async def _get_validators_from_dvt_relayer(
 
 
 def create_relayer_adapter() -> RelayerAdapter:
-    if RELAYER_TYPE == RelayerTypes.DVT:
+    if settings.relayer_type == RelayerTypes.DVT:
         dvt_relayer = DvtRelayerClient()
         deposit_data = load_deposit_data(settings.vault, settings.deposit_data_file)
         return RelayerAdapter(dvt_relayer, deposit_data)