diff --git a/config/initializers/api.rb b/config/initializers/api.rb
index 5fcd444ab..e49c585a8 100644
--- a/config/initializers/api.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/api.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 Rails.application.configure do
-  config.x.core_api_sign_alg = ENV['CORE_API_SIGN_ALG'] if ENV['CORE_API_SIGN_ALG']
+  config.x.core_api_sign_alg = ENV['CORE_API_SIGN_ALG'] || 'HS256'
 
-  config.x.core_api_token_ttl = ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_TTL'].to_i.seconds if ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_TTL']
+  config.x.core_api_token_ttl = ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_TTL'] ? ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_TTL'].to_i.seconds : 30.minutes
 
-  config.x.core_api_token_iss = ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_ISS'] if ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_ISS']
+  config.x.core_api_token_iss = ENV['CORE_API_TOKEN_ISS'] || 'SciNote'
 
   config.x.core_api_rate_limit = ENV['CORE_API_RATE_LIMIT'] ? ENV['CORE_API_RATE_LIMIT'].to_i : 1000
 
-  config.x.core_api_v1_enabled = true if ENV['CORE_API_V1_ENABLED']
+  config.x.core_api_v1_enabled = ENV['CORE_API_V1_ENABLED'] || false
 end