diff --git a/packages/faustwp-cli/src/healthCheck/validateFaustEnvVars.ts b/packages/faustwp-cli/src/healthCheck/validateFaustEnvVars.ts
index 7f9b046aa..0f5ecf89d 100644
--- a/packages/faustwp-cli/src/healthCheck/validateFaustEnvVars.ts
+++ b/packages/faustwp-cli/src/healthCheck/validateFaustEnvVars.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export const validateFaustEnvVars = async () => {
     // send secret key
     const apiUrl = `${getWpUrl()}/wp-json/faustwp/v1/validate_secret_key`;
     const headers = {
-      'x-faustwp-secret': getWpSecret() || '',
+      'x-faustwp-secret': getWpSecret(),
     };
     try {
       const response = await fetch(apiUrl, {