diff --git a/config/defaults.hjson b/config/defaults.hjson
index 6d7d520a1..bdf19142e 100644
--- a/config/defaults.hjson
+++ b/config/defaults.hjson
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@
     smtp_password: "string"
     # Address to send emails from, eg noreply@your-instance.com
     smtp_from_address: "noreply@example.com"
-    # Whether or not smtp connections should use tls. Can be missing (IE None), tls, or starttls
-    use_tls: "string"
+    # Whether or not smtp connections should use tls. Can be none, tls, or starttls
+    tls_type: "none"
   }
   # Parameters for automatic configuration of new instance (only used at first start)
   setup: {
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/email.rs b/crates/utils/src/email.rs
index b6280927d..69c0fb17b 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/email.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/email.rs
@@ -77,16 +77,10 @@ pub fn send_email(
   // Set the TLS
   let builder_dangerous = SmtpTransport::builder_dangerous(smtp_server).port(smtp_port);
 
-  let mut builder = if let Some(tls_type) = email_config.use_tls {
-    if tls_type == "starttls" {
-      SmtpTransport::starttls_relay(smtp_server)?
-    } else if tls_type == "tls" {
-      SmtpTransport::relay(smtp_server)?
-    } else {
-      builder_dangerous
-    }
-  } else {
-    builder_dangerous
+  let mut builder = match email_config.tls_type.as_str() {
+    "starttls" => SmtpTransport::starttls_relay(smtp_server)?,
+    "tls" => SmtpTransport::relay(smtp_server)?,
+    _ => builder_dangerous,
   };
 
   // Set the creds if they exist
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs b/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
index da0526fa0..6e66b92d6 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/settings/structs.rs
@@ -101,9 +101,10 @@ pub struct EmailConfig {
   #[doku(example = "noreply@example.com")]
   /// Address to send emails from, eg "noreply@your-instance.com"
   pub smtp_from_address: String,
-  /// Whether or not smtp connections should use tls. Can be missing (IE None), tls, or starttls
-  #[default(None)]
-  pub use_tls: Option<String>,
+  /// Whether or not smtp connections should use tls. Can be none, tls, or starttls
+  #[default("none")]
+  #[doku(example = "none")]
+  pub tls_type: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, SmartDefault, Document)]