diff --git a/packages/cli/config/index.ts b/packages/cli/config/index.ts
index 2452bdd67f..a3b800279e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/config/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/config/index.ts
@@ -177,13 +177,13 @@ const config = convict({
 	},
 	ssl_key: {
 		format: String,
-		default: 'server.key',
+		default: '',
 		env: 'N8N_SSL_KEY',
 		doc: 'SSL Key for HTTPS Protocol'
 	},
 	ssl_cert: {
 		format: String,
-		default: 'server.pem',
+		default: '',
 		env: 'N8N_SSL_CERT',
 		doc: 'SSL Cert for HTTPS Protocol'
 	},
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
index 42bed2942e..2664dcf5a7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
@@ -1268,10 +1268,10 @@ export async function start(): Promise<void> {
 
 	let server;
 
-	if(app.protocol === 'https'){
+	if (app.protocol === 'https' && app.sslKey && app.sslCert){
 		const https = require('https');
-		const privateKey = readFileSync(app.sslKey,'utf8');
-		const cert = readFileSync(app.sslCert,'utf8');
+		const privateKey = readFileSync(app.sslKey, 'utf8');
+		const cert = readFileSync(app.sslCert, 'utf8');
 		const credentials = { key: privateKey,cert };
 		server = https.createServer(credentials,app.app);
 	}else{