diff --git a/netbird/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/00-netbird-config.sh b/netbird/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/00-netbird-config.sh
index c3b84da76..c9cfec276 100755
--- a/netbird/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/00-netbird-config.sh
+++ b/netbird/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/00-netbird-config.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export AUTH_CLIENT_SECRET="${AUTH_CLIENT_SECRET}"
 export AUTH_SUPPORTED_SCOPES="${AUTH_SUPPORTED_SCOPES}"
 export AUTH_REDIRECT_URI="https://${DOMAIN}:${DASHBOARD_PORT}/"
 export AUTH_SILENT_REDIRECT_URI="https://${DOMAIN}:${DASHBOARD_PORT}/silent"
-declare NETBIRD_DATASTORE_ENC_KEY
+NETBIRD_DATASTORE_ENC_KEY="${NETBIRD_DATASTORE_ENC_KEY:-}"
 
 CONFIG_FILE="${DATA_PATH}/management.json"
 if [[ ! -f "${CONFIG_FILE}" ]]; then