diff --git a/gns3server/schemas/config.py b/gns3server/schemas/config.py
index 27a4ca2d6..f5155ec30 100644
--- a/gns3server/schemas/config.py
+++ b/gns3server/schemas/config.py
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ class ServerSettings(BaseModel):
     enable_builtin_templates: bool = True
     model_config = ConfigDict(validate_assignment=True, str_strip_whitespace=True, use_enum_values=True)
 
-
     @field_validator("additional_images_paths", mode="before")
     @classmethod
     def split_additional_images_paths(cls, v):
@@ -154,7 +153,6 @@ def split_additional_images_paths(cls, v):
             return v.split(";")
         return list()
 
-
     @field_validator("allowed_interfaces", mode="before")
     @classmethod
     def split_allowed_interfaces(cls, v):
@@ -162,27 +160,24 @@ def split_allowed_interfaces(cls, v):
             return v.split(",")
         return list()
 
-
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def check_console_port_range(self) -> "ServerSettings":
         if self.console_end_port_range <= self.console_start_port_range:
             raise ValueError("console_end_port_range must be > console_start_port_range")
         return self
 
-
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def check_vnc_port_range(self) -> "ServerSettings":
         if self.vnc_console_end_port_range <= self.vnc_console_start_port_range:
             raise ValueError("vnc_console_end_port_range must be > vnc_console_start_port_range")
         return self
 
-
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def check_enable_ssl(self) -> "ServerSettings":
         if self.enable_ssl is True:
-            if self.certfile is None:
+            if not self.certfile:
                 raise ValueError("SSL is enabled but certfile is not configured")
-            if self.certkey is None:
+            if not self.certkey:
                 raise ValueError("SSL is enabled but certkey is not configured")
         return self
 
diff --git a/gns3server/server.py b/gns3server/server.py
index e17f26035..6673d81cd 100644
--- a/gns3server/server.py
+++ b/gns3server/server.py
@@ -167,8 +167,10 @@ def _set_config_defaults_from_command_line(args):
         config.Server.allow_remote_console = args.allow
         config.Server.host = args.host
         config.Server.port = args.port
-        config.Server.certfile = args.certfile
-        config.Server.certkey = args.certkey
+        if args.certfile:
+            config.Server.certfile = args.certfile
+        if args.certkey:
+            config.Server.certkey = args.certkey
         config.Server.enable_ssl = args.ssl
 
     def _signal_handling(self):