diff --git a/lib/encrypt.js b/lib/encrypt.js
index 3871218..f98a444 100644
--- a/lib/encrypt.js
+++ b/lib/encrypt.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ async function decrypt(encryptedData, secret, defaultCipher) {
         return encryptedData;
     }
 
-    if (!secret) {
+    if (!secret && decryptData.format !== 'cleartext') {
         // data is encrypted but we do not have a secret
         let err = new Error('Failed to decrypt data. No secret provided.');
         err.responseCode = 500;