diff --git a/apps/frontend/app/lib/utilities.server.ts b/apps/frontend/app/lib/utilities.server.ts
index 16806c46d7..fa2836fbb1 100644
--- a/apps/frontend/app/lib/utilities.server.ts
+++ b/apps/frontend/app/lib/utilities.server.ts
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ export const toastSessionStorage = createCookieSessionStorage({
 	cookie: {
 		sameSite: "lax",
 		path: "/",
-		secrets: (process.env.SESSION_SECRET || "").split(","),
+		secrets: (process.env.SESSION_SECRET || "secret").split(","),
 		name: toastKey,
 	},
 });