diff --git a/backend/src/config/schema.ts b/backend/src/config/schema.ts
index 768691800..b5d44c23f 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -328,22 +328,14 @@ export const schema = Joi.object({
 
   OPENAI_API_KEY: Joi.string()
     .pattern(/^sk-[A-Za-z0-9-_]{20,}$/)
-    .when(Joi.ref('OPENAI_ACTIVE', { adjust: (v) => Boolean(v) }), {
-      is: true,
-      then: Joi.required(),
-      otherwise: Joi.optional(),
-    })
+    .when('OPENAI_ACTIVE', { is: true, then: Joi.required(), otherwise: Joi.optional() })
     .description(
       'API key for OpenAI, must be at least 20 characters long and contain only alphanumeric characters, dashes, or underscores',
     ),
 
   OPENAI_ASSISTANT_ID: Joi.string()
     .pattern(/^asst_[A-Za-z0-9-]{20,}$/)
-    .when(Joi.ref('OPENAI_ACTIVE', { adjust: (v) => Boolean(v) }), {
-      is: true,
-      then: Joi.required(),
-      otherwise: Joi.optional(),
-    })
+    .when('OPENAI_ACTIVE', { is: true, then: Joi.required(), otherwise: Joi.optional() })
     .description('Assistant ID for OpenAI'),
 
   USE_CRYPTO_WORKER: Joi.boolean()
diff --git a/config/src/commonSchema.ts b/config/src/commonSchema.ts
index 9a0a8598c..b3221491c 100644
--- a/config/src/commonSchema.ts
+++ b/config/src/commonSchema.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ export const LOGIN_SERVER_KEY = Joi.string()
 export const OPENAI_ACTIVE = Joi.boolean()
   .default(false)
   .description('Flag to enable or disable OpenAI API')
+  .required()
 
 export const TYPEORM_LOGGING_RELATIVE_PATH = Joi.string()
   .pattern(new RegExp('^[a-zA-Z0-9-_\./]+\.log$'))