diff --git a/backend/src/config/index.ts b/backend/src/config/index.ts
index 22a509080..6258eb36a 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config/index.ts
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ const email = {
   EMAIL: process.env.EMAIL === 'true' || false,
   EMAIL_TEST_MODUS: process.env.EMAIL_TEST_MODUS === 'true' || false,
   EMAIL_TEST_RECEIVER: process.env.EMAIL_TEST_RECEIVER || 'stage1@gradido.net',
-  EMAIL_USERNAME: process.env.EMAIL_USERNAME || 'null',
+  EMAIL_USERNAME: process.env.EMAIL_USERNAME || '',
   EMAIL_SENDER: process.env.EMAIL_SENDER || 'info@gradido.net',
-  EMAIL_PASSWORD: process.env.EMAIL_PASSWORD || 'null',
+  EMAIL_PASSWORD: process.env.EMAIL_PASSWORD || '',
   EMAIL_SMTP_URL: process.env.EMAIL_SMTP_URL || 'mailserver',
   EMAIL_SMTP_PORT: process.env.EMAIL_SMTP_PORT || '1025',
   // eslint-disable-next-line no-unneeded-ternary