diff --git a/modules/EvseSecurity/main/evse_securityImpl.cpp b/modules/EvseSecurity/main/evse_securityImpl.cpp
index f3269d7a4..050782928 100644
--- a/modules/EvseSecurity/main/evse_securityImpl.cpp
+++ b/modules/EvseSecurity/main/evse_securityImpl.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,13 @@ void evse_securityImpl::init() {
                                            certs_path / this->mod->config.csms_leaf_key_directory,
                                            certs_path / this->mod->config.secc_leaf_cert_directory,
                                            certs_path / this->mod->config.secc_leaf_key_directory};
-    this->evse_security =
-        std::make_unique<evse_security::EvseSecurity>(file_paths, this->mod->config.private_key_password);
+
+    std::optional<std::string> private_key_password = std::nullopt;
+    if (!this->mod->config.private_key_password.empty()) {
+        private_key_password = this->mod->config.private_key_password;
+    }
+
+    this->evse_security = std::make_unique<evse_security::EvseSecurity>(file_paths, private_key_password);
 }
 
 void evse_securityImpl::ready() {