diff --git a/backend/backend/utils/secrets.py b/backend/backend/utils/secrets.py
index f4ccf87a..135f87df 100644
--- a/backend/backend/utils/secrets.py
+++ b/backend/backend/utils/secrets.py
@@ -4,37 +4,38 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-def get_secret(key: str) -> str:
+
+def get_secret(key: str) -> str | None:
     """
-    Retrieve secrets from either files or environment variables. Implements a "secrets provider" pattern 
+    Retrieve secrets from either files or environment variables. Implements a "secrets provider" pattern
     commonly used in containerized applications.
-    
+
     1. Check if {key}_FILE exists as an environment variable (e.g. PGSQL_PASSWORD_FILE)
         - If it exists, read the secret from that file location
         - This supports Docker/Kubernetes secrets (https://docs.docker.com/reference/compose-file/secrets)
     2. Fall back to checking if {key} exists as a regular environment variable
-    
+
     Example:
         # Using file-based secret:
         DATABASE_PASSWORD_FILE=/run/secrets/db_password
         get_secret('DATABASE_PASSWORD')  # reads from /run/secrets/db_password
-        
+
         # Using environment variable:
         DATABASE_PASSWORD=ebeefa2b4634ab18b0280c96fce1adc5969dcad133cce440353b5ed1a7387f0a
         get_secret('DATABASE_PASSWORD')  # returns 'ebeefa2b4634ab18b0280c96fce1adc5969dcad133cce440353b5ed1a7387f0a'
-    
+
     Args:
         key: Name of the secret to retrieve (e.g. 'DATABASE_PASSWORD')
-    
+
     Returns:
-        str: The secret value or empty string if not found
+        str: The secret value or None if not found
     """
 
-    debug_mode = os.getenv('DEBUG', 'False').lower() == 'true'
-    
+    debug_mode = os.getenv("DEBUG", "False").lower() == "true"
+
     file_env_key = f"{key}_FILE"
     file_path = os.getenv(file_env_key)
-    
+
     if file_path:
         path = Path(file_path)
         if path.exists():
@@ -47,13 +48,15 @@ def get_secret(key: str) -> str:
                 if debug_mode:
                     logger.debug(f"Failed to read secret file for '{key}': {e}")
         elif debug_mode:
-            logger.debug(f"File path specified for '{key}' but file not found: {file_path}")
-            
-    secret = os.getenv(key, '')
+            logger.debug(
+                f"File path specified for '{key}' but file not found: {file_path}"
+            )
+
+    secret = os.getenv(key, None)
     if debug_mode:
         if secret:
             logger.debug(f"Loaded secret '{key}' from environment variable")
         else:
             logger.debug(f"Secret '{key}' not found in environment or file")
-            
+
     return secret
diff --git a/backend/tests/utils/test_secret.py b/backend/tests/utils/test_secret.py
index 8aba2226..20c1c65f 100644
--- a/backend/tests/utils/test_secret.py
+++ b/backend/tests/utils/test_secret.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def test_get_secret_missing_file():
 
 
 def test_get_secret_neither_exists():
-    """Test empty string returned when neither file nor env var exists"""
+    """Test None returned when neither file nor env var exists"""
     with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
         assert get_secret("TEST_SECRET") == None
 
diff --git a/frontend/utils/secretConfig.ts b/frontend/utils/secretConfig.ts
index 3faf3bd2..d81ce946 100644
--- a/frontend/utils/secretConfig.ts
+++ b/frontend/utils/secretConfig.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import { readFileSync } from 'fs'
  * @param key - Name of the secret to retrieve (e.g. 'DATABASE_PASSWORD')
  * @returns The secret value or empty string if not found
  */
-export function getSecret(key: string): string {
+export function getSecret(key: string): string | undefined {
     const debug = process.env.DEBUG ? process.env.DEBUG === 'True' : false
     
     const fileEnvKey = `${key}_FILE`
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export function getSecret(key: string): string {
         console.debug(`[secrets] File path specified for '${key}' but file not found: ${filePath}`)
     }
     
-    const secret = process.env[key] || ''
+    const secret = process.env[key] || undefined
     if (debug) {
         if (secret) {
             console.debug(`[secrets] Loaded secret '${key}' from environment variable`)