diff --git a/servers/cu/src/config.js b/servers/cu/src/config.js
index 6983f5198..ac4dba324 100644
--- a/servers/cu/src/config.js
+++ b/servers/cu/src/config.js
@@ -44,17 +44,18 @@ const serverConfigSchema = domainConfigSchema.extend({
 /* eslint-disable no-throw-literal */
 
 /**
- * If the WALLET_FILE env var is defined, load the contents from the file.
- * Refuse to boot the app if both or none of WALLET and WALLET_FILE are defined.
+ * If the WALLET is defined, then do nothing.
+ *
+ * Otherwise, check whether the WALLET_FILE env var is defined and load it contents
+ * as WALLET
  */
 export const preprocessWallet = (envConfig) => {
   const { WALLET, WALLET_FILE, ...theRestOfTheConfig } = envConfig
 
-  // nothing to do here
-  if (!!WALLET && !WALLET_FILE) return envConfig
+  //  WALLET takes precendent. nothing to do here
+  if (WALLET) return envConfig
 
   if (!WALLET && !WALLET_FILE) throw 'One of WALLET or WALLET_FILE is required'
-  if (!!WALLET && !!WALLET_FILE) throw 'Do not define both WALLET and WALLET_FILE'
 
   const walletPath = path.resolve(WALLET_FILE)
   if (!existsSync(walletPath)) throw `WALLET_FILE does not exist: ${walletPath}`