diff --git a/docs/docs/getting-started/install.md b/docs/docs/getting-started/install.md
index 6cc9fcfa1..0b2378aa7 100644
--- a/docs/docs/getting-started/install.md
+++ b/docs/docs/getting-started/install.md
@@ -45,13 +45,14 @@ services:
 
 ## Env Variables
 
-| Variables        | Default  | Description                                                                         |
-| ---------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| DB_TYPE          | sqlite   | The database type to be used. Current Options 'sqlite'                              |
-| API_PORT         | 9000     | The port exposed by backend API. **do not change this if you're running in docker** |
-| API_DOCS         | True     | Turns on/off access to the API documentation locally.                               |
-| DEFAULT_PASSWORD | ChangeMe | The default password for all users created in Mealie                                |
-| TZ               | UTC      | Must be set to get correct date/time on the server                                  |
+| Variables        | Default    | Description                                                                         |
+| ---------------- | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| DB_TYPE          | sqlite     | The database type to be used. Current Options 'sqlite'                              |
+| DEFAULT_GROUP    | Home       | The default group for users                                                         |
+| DEFAULT_PASSWORD | MyPassword | The default password for all users created in Mealie                                |
+| API_PORT         | 9000       | The port exposed by backend API. **do not change this if you're running in docker** |
+| API_DOCS         | True       | Turns on/off access to the API documentation locally.                               |
+| TZ               | UTC        | Must be set to get correct date/time on the server                                  |
 
 
 ## Deployed as a Python Application
diff --git a/mealie/core/config.py b/mealie/core/config.py
index 2eccd4969..fdaaa6e77 100644
--- a/mealie/core/config.py
+++ b/mealie/core/config.py
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ else:
 
 
 def determine_secrets() -> str:
+    if not PRODUCTION:
+        return "shh-secret-test-key"
+
     secrets_file = DATA_DIR.joinpath(".secret")
     if secrets_file.is_file():
         with open(secrets_file, "r") as f:
@@ -90,11 +93,11 @@ def determine_secrets() -> str:
             f.write(secrets.token_hex(32))
 
 
-SECRET = determine_secrets()
+SECRET = "determine_secrets()"
 
 # Mongo Database
 DEFAULT_GROUP = os.getenv("DEFAULT_GROUP", "Home")
-DEFAULT_PASSWORD = os.getenv("DEFAULT_PASSWORD", "ChangeMe")
+DEFAULT_PASSWORD = os.getenv("DEFAULT_PASSWORD", "MyPassword")
 
 # Database
 MEALIE_DB_NAME = os.getenv("mealie_db_name", "mealie")
diff --git a/mealie/core/security.py b/mealie/core/security.py
index 2091e024e..c4380cb25 100644
--- a/mealie/core/security.py
+++ b/mealie/core/security.py
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ def create_access_token(data: dict(), expires_delta: timedelta = None) -> str:
     else:
         expire = datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(minutes=120)
     to_encode.update({"exp": expire})
-    encoded_jwt = jwt.encode(to_encode, SECRET, algorithm=ALGORITHM)
-    return encoded_jwt
+    return jwt.encode(to_encode, SECRET, algorithm=ALGORITHM)
 
 
 def authenticate_user(session, email: str, password: str) -> UserInDB: