diff --git a/src/djangooidc/views.py b/src/djangooidc/views.py
index ce16cb483..eeadd4f31 100644
--- a/src/djangooidc/views.py
+++ b/src/djangooidc/views.py
@@ -15,10 +15,14 @@ from djangooidc import exceptions as o_e
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-# Initialize provider using pyOICD
-OP = getattr(settings, "OIDC_ACTIVE_PROVIDER")
-CLIENT = Client(OP)
-logger.debug("client initialized %s" % CLIENT)
+try:
+    # Initialize provider using pyOICD
+    OP = getattr(settings, "OIDC_ACTIVE_PROVIDER")
+    CLIENT = Client(OP)
+    logger.debug("client initialized %s" % CLIENT)
+except Exception as err:
+    logger.warning(err)
+    logger.warning("Unable to configure OpenID Connect provider. Users cannot log in.")
 
 
 def error_page(request, error):
diff --git a/src/docker-compose.yml b/src/docker-compose.yml
index 425055689..3223f6323 100644
--- a/src/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/src/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ services:
       - db
     working_dir: /app
     entrypoint: python /app/docker_entrypoint.py
-    env_file:
-      # Non-version controlled file containing DJANGO_SP_PRIVATE_KEY
-      # and other sensitive values
-      - .env
     environment:
       # Send stdout and stderr straight to the terminal without buffering
       - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=yup
@@ -27,6 +23,9 @@ services:
       - DJANGO_DEBUG=True
       # Tell Django where it is being hosted
       - DJANGO_BASE_URL="localhost:8080"
+      # --- These keys are obtained from `.env` file ---
+      # Set a private JWT signing key for Login.gov
+      - DJANGO_SECRET_LOGIN_KEY
     stdin_open: true
     tty: true
     ports:
diff --git a/src/registrar/config/settings.py b/src/registrar/config/settings.py
index be4134817..b17a0e4ce 100644
--- a/src/registrar/config/settings.py
+++ b/src/registrar/config/settings.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ env_debug = env.bool("DJANGO_DEBUG", default=False)
 env_log_level = env.str("DJANGO_LOG_LEVEL", "DEBUG")
 env_base_url = env.str("DJANGO_BASE_URL")
 
-secret_login_key = b64decode(secret("DJANGO_SECRET_LOGIN_KEY"))
+secret_login_key = b64decode(secret("DJANGO_SECRET_LOGIN_KEY", ""))
 secret_key = secret("DJANGO_SECRET_KEY")
 
 # region: Basic Django Config-----------------------------------------------###
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ OIDC_ALLOW_DYNAMIC_OP = False
 # (code does not currently support user selection)
 OIDC_ACTIVE_PROVIDER = "login.gov"
 
+
 OIDC_PROVIDERS = {
     "login.gov": {
         "srv_discovery_url": "https://idp.int.identitysandbox.gov",