diff --git a/templates/compose/ente-photos.yaml b/templates/compose/ente-photos.yaml
index a765e4a7e..effeeeb4a 100644
--- a/templates/compose/ente-photos.yaml
+++ b/templates/compose/ente-photos.yaml
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ services:
       - ENTE_S3_B2_EU_CEN_REGION=${S3_STORAGE_REGION:-us-east-1}
       - ENTE_S3_B2_EU_CEN_BUCKET=${S3_STORAGE_BUCKET:?}
 
-      - ENTE_SMTP_HOST=${ENTE_SMTP_HOST:-smtp.gmail.com}
-      - ENTE_SMTP_PORT=${ENTE_SMTP_PORT:-587}
+      - ENTE_SMTP_HOST=${ENTE_SMTP_HOST}
+      - ENTE_SMTP_PORT=${ENTE_SMTP_PORT}
       - ENTE_SMTP_USERNAME=${ENTE_SMTP_USERNAME}
       - ENTE_SMTP_PASSWORD=${ENTE_SMTP_PASSWORD}
       - ENTE_SMTP_EMAIL=${ENTE_SMTP_EMAIL}
       - ENTE_SMTP_SENDER_NAME=${ENTE_SMTP_SENDER_NAME}
-      - ENTE_SMTP_ENCRYPTION=${ENTE_SMTP_ENCRYPTION:-tls}
+      - ENTE_SMTP_ENCRYPTION=${ENTE_SMTP_ENCRYPTION}
 
     depends_on:
       postgres: