diff --git a/cli/src/commands/node/mod.rs b/cli/src/commands/node/mod.rs
index 1e78d5af5d..fde5d76d9a 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/node/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/node/mod.rs
@@ -94,11 +94,13 @@ pub struct Node {
 
     /// Enable block producer with this key file
     ///
-    /// MINA_PRIVKEY_PASS must be set to decrypt the keyfile
+    /// MINA_PRIVKEY_PASS must be set to decrypt the keyfile if it is password-protected
     #[arg(long, env, group = "producer")]
     pub producer_key: Option<PathBuf>,
-    #[arg(env = "MINA_PRIVKEY_PASS")]
-    pub producer_key_password: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Password used to decrypt the producer key file.
+    #[arg(env = "MINA_PRIVKEY_PASS", default_value = "")]
+    pub producer_key_password: String,
 
     /// Address to send coinbase rewards to (if this node is producing blocks).
     /// If not provided, coinbase rewards will be sent to the producer
@@ -222,13 +224,12 @@ impl Node {
             .block_verifier_index(block_verifier_index.clone())
             .work_verifier_index(work_verifier_index.clone());
 
-        if let (Some(producer_key_path), Some(pasword)) =
-            (self.producer_key, &self.producer_key_password)
-        {
+        if let Some(producer_key_path) = self.producer_key {
+            let password = &self.producer_key_password;
             node::core::info!(node::core::log::system_time(); summary = "loading provers index");
             let provers = BlockProver::make(Some(block_verifier_index), Some(work_verifier_index));
             node::core::info!(node::core::log::system_time(); summary = "loaded provers index");
-            node_builder.block_producer_from_file(provers, producer_key_path, pasword)?;
+            node_builder.block_producer_from_file(provers, producer_key_path, password)?;
 
             if let Some(pub_key) = self.coinbase_receiver {
                 node_builder