diff --git a/backend/src/config/index.js b/backend/src/config/index.js
index d03fb7e00..47771029b 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/config/index.js
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ const server = {
 const smtp = {
   SMTP_HOST: env.SMTP_HOST,
   SMTP_PORT: env.SMTP_PORT,
-  SMTP_IGNORE_TLS: env.SMTP_IGNORE_TLS || true,
+  SMTP_IGNORE_TLS: env.SMTP_IGNORE_TLS === 'true' || true,
+  SMTP_SECURE: env.SMTP_IGNORE_TLS === 'true' || false,
   SMTP_USERNAME: env.SMTP_USERNAME,
   SMTP_PASSWORD: env.SMTP_PASSWORD,
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/email/emailMiddleware.js b/backend/src/middleware/email/emailMiddleware.js
index 4dbb3ad03..1143e3d0f 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/email/emailMiddleware.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/email/emailMiddleware.js
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ if (!hasEmailConfig) {
     const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
       host: CONFIG.SMTP_HOST,
       port: CONFIG.SMTP_PORT,
-      ignoreTLS: CONFIG.SMTP_IGNORE_TLS === 'true',
-      secure: false, // true for 465, false for other ports
+      ignoreTLS: CONFIG.SMTP_IGNORE_TLS,
+      secure: CONFIG.SMTP_SECURE, // true for 465, false for other ports
       auth: hasAuthData && {
         user: CONFIG.SMTP_USERNAME,
         pass: CONFIG.SMTP_PASSWORD,