diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index accd294ba..f5f44745b 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 APP_NAME="PixelFed Test"
 APP_ENV=local
-APP_KEY=base64:<32-character-base64>
+APP_KEY=
 APP_DEBUG=true
 APP_URL=http://localhost