diff --git a/src/gateway/server.impl.ts b/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
index b8d9969b5..b5c1b1213 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
@@ -306,11 +306,10 @@ export async function startGatewayServer(
           : "Unknown validation issue.";
       throw new Error(`Invalid config at ${freshSnapshot.path}.\n${issues}`);
     }
-    const prepared = await activateRuntimeSecrets(freshSnapshot.config, {
+    await activateRuntimeSecrets(freshSnapshot.config, {
       reason: "startup",
-      activate: true,
+      activate: false,
     });
-    cfgAtStart = prepared.config;
   }
 
   cfgAtStart = loadConfig();