diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/base.py b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/base.py
index 245f3aa9e..4df77f8b2 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/base.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/base.py
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
             if secret_key_path.exists():
                 value = read_secret_from_file(secret_key_path)
                 logger.debug("Loaded secret key")
+                if not value:
+                    value = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+                    write_secret_to_file(secret_key_path, value)
+                    logger.debug("Saved secret key")
             else:
                 value = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
                 write_secret_to_file(secret_key_path, value)
diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
index 99b8d2ab8..5eb4cd787 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def set_secure_permissions(file_path):
 
 def write_secret_to_file(path: Path, value: str) -> None:
     with path.open("wb") as f:
-        f.write(value)
+        f.write(value.encode("utf-8"))
     try:
         set_secure_permissions(path)
     except Exception: