diff --git a/nixos-infect b/nixos-infect
index a521338..ea03602 100755
--- a/nixos-infect
+++ b/nixos-infect
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@
 : "${LUSER:?LUSER variable is not set}"
 : "${NIX_VERSION:?NIX_VERSION variable is not set}"
 : "${PROVIDER:?PROVIDER variable is not set}"
-: "${STAGING_ACME:?STAGING_ACME variable is not set}"
 
 # optional variables
 : "${NIXOS_CONFIG_ID:=default}"
 : "${SSH_AUTHORIZED_KEY:=}"
 : "${VOLUME_DEV_PATH:=}"
+: "${STAGING_ACME:=false}"
 
 readonly NL=$'\n'
 readonly LOCAL_FLAKE_DIR="/etc/nixos"