diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 5a24b41..4f4ee2a 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ ALLOWED_EMAILS = {
 
 
 def env(name: str, default: str = "") -> str:
-    return os.getenv(name, default).strip()
+    value = os.getenv(name, "").strip()
+    return value if value else default
 
 
 def build_google_oauth() -> OAuth: