diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/common.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/common.py
index ab3c4f90c617..993412f392bb 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/common.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/common.py
@@ -31,17 +31,12 @@ def plugin_settings(settings):  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=missing-function
     # Note: To local development with Firebase, you must set FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH
     # (path to json file with FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS)
     # or FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS dictionary.
-    # AND COMMENT or remove `settings.FIREBASE_APP = None` string below.
     settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH = None
     settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS = None
-    settings.FIREBASE_APP = None
 
-    used_firebase_credentials = getattr(settings, 'FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH', None)
-    if not used_firebase_credentials:
-        used_firebase_credentials = getattr(settings, 'FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS', None)
-
-    settings.FIREBASE_APP = setup_firebase_app(settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH or settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS, settings.FCM_APP_NAME)
-        settings.FIREBASE_APP = setup_firebase_app(used_firebase_credentials, settings.FCM_APP_NAME)
+    settings.FIREBASE_APP = setup_firebase_app(
+        settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH or settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS, settings.FCM_APP_NAME
+    )
 
     if getattr(settings, 'FIREBASE_APP', None):
         settings.ACE_ENABLED_CHANNELS.append(settings.ACE_CHANNEL_DEFAULT_PUSH)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/production.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/production.py
index fc1e129d4d7f..d0076eafc3bd 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/production.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/ace_common/settings/production.py
@@ -33,12 +33,9 @@ def plugin_settings(settings):
     )
     settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS = settings.ENV_TOKENS.get('FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS', settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS)
 
-    used_firebase_credentials = settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH
-    if not used_firebase_credentials:
-        used_firebase_credentials = settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS
-
-    if used_firebase_credentials:
-        settings.FIREBASE_APP = setup_firebase_app(used_firebase_credentials, settings.FCM_APP_NAME)
+    settings.FIREBASE_APP = setup_firebase_app(
+        settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS_PATH or settings.FIREBASE_CREDENTIALS, settings.FCM_APP_NAME
+    )
 
     if settings.FIREBASE_APP:
         settings.ACE_ENABLED_CHANNELS.append(settings.ACE_CHANNEL_DEFAULT_PUSH)