diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/check-balance.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/check-balance.ts
index 8185522ea0..f1e080bbb4 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/check-balance.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/check-balance.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
 // This example syncs the account and prints the balance
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
     try {
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/create-address.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/create-address.ts
index 2b7861dc44..63a74b82da 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/create-address.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/create-address.ts
@@ -10,13 +10,15 @@ require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
 // This example creates an address
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
+    if (!process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD) {
+        throw new Error(
+            '.env STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD is undefined, see .env.example',
+        );
+    }
     try {
-        if (!process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD) {
-            throw new Error(
-                '.env STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD is undefined, see .env.example',
-            );
-        }
-
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
         });
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-accounts.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-accounts.ts
index c1190a96ae..3f4022d12e 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-accounts.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-accounts.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,18 @@
 
 import { Wallet, initLogger } from '@iota/sdk';
 
+// This example uses secrets in environment variables for simplicity which should not be done in production.
+require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
+
 // Run with command:
 // yarn run-example ./how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-accounts.ts
 
 // This example lists all accounts in the wallet
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
     try {
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-addresses.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-addresses.ts
index 20aa631eec..f5bb896677 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-addresses.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-addresses.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,18 @@
 
 import { Wallet, initLogger } from '@iota/sdk';
 
+// This example uses secrets in environment variables for simplicity which should not be done in production.
+require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
+
 // Run with command:
 // yarn run-example ./how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-addresses.ts
 
 // This example lists all addresses in the account
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
     try {
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-outputs.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-outputs.ts
index c64f2fa8eb..3902c322d4 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-outputs.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-outputs.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,18 @@
 
 import { Wallet, initLogger } from '@iota/sdk';
 
+// This example uses secrets in environment variables for simplicity which should not be done in production.
+require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
+
 // Run with command:
 // yarn run-example ./how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-outputs.ts
 
 // This example lists all outputs in the account
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
     try {
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-transactions.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-transactions.ts
index 4e0fd758ba..8f77e0a7fd 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-transactions.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-transactions.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,18 @@
 
 import { Wallet, initLogger } from '@iota/sdk';
 
+// This example uses secrets in environment variables for simplicity which should not be done in production.
+require('dotenv').config({ path: '.env' });
+
 // Run with command:
 // yarn run-example ./how_tos/accounts_and_addresses/list-transactions.ts
 
 // This example lists all transactions in the account
 async function run() {
     initLogger();
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
     try {
         const wallet = new Wallet({
             storagePath: process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH,
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/create.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/create.ts
index a71ff6da2b..f9a6b8cd42 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/create.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/create.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ async function run() {
     if (!process.env.FAUCET_URL) {
         throw new Error('.env FAUCET_URL is undefined, see .env.example');
     }
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
+    if (!process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD) {
+        throw new Error(
+            '.env STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD is undefined, see .env.example',
+        );
+    }
     try {
         // Create the wallet
         const wallet = new Wallet({
@@ -27,12 +35,11 @@ async function run() {
         // May want to ensure the account is synced before sending a transaction.
         let balance = await account.sync();
 
-        if (balance.aliases.length == 0) {
-            throw new Error(`No Alias available in account 'Alice'`);
-        }
-
         console.log(`Aliases BEFORE:\n`, balance.aliases);
 
+        // To sign a transaction we need to unlock stronghold.
+        await wallet.setStrongholdPassword(process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD);
+
         console.log('Sending the create-alias transaction...');
 
         // Create an alias
diff --git a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/destroy.ts b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/destroy.ts
index 3e99167dfd..0ba54d55fc 100644
--- a/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/destroy.ts
+++ b/bindings/nodejs/examples/how_tos/alias/destroy.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ async function run() {
     if (!process.env.FAUCET_URL) {
         throw new Error('.env FAUCET_URL is undefined, see .env.example');
     }
+    if (!process.env.WALLET_DB_PATH) {
+        throw new Error('.env WALLET_DB_PATH is undefined, see .env.example');
+    }
+    if (!process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD) {
+        throw new Error(
+            '.env STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD is undefined, see .env.example',
+        );
+    }
     try {
         // Create the wallet
         const wallet = new Wallet({
@@ -35,6 +43,10 @@ async function run() {
         const aliasId = balance.aliases[0];
 
         console.log(`Aliases BEFORE destroying:\n`, balance.aliases);
+
+        // To sign a transaction we need to unlock stronghold.
+        await wallet.setStrongholdPassword(process.env.STRONGHOLD_PASSWORD);
+
         console.log('Sending the destroy-alias transaction...');
 
         // Destroy an alias