diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d292716b..39933fd4 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -53,4 +53,7 @@ COPY --from=build /app/build /app/build
 # copy backend files
 COPY ./backend .
 
+# Generate a random value to use as a WEBUI_SECRET_KEY in case the user didn't provide one.
+RUN echo $(head -c 12 /dev/random | base64) > docker_secret_key
+
 CMD [ "bash", "start.sh"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/start.sh b/backend/start.sh
index 09a791fc..515e6c93 100755
--- a/backend/start.sh
+++ b/backend/start.sh
@@ -4,4 +4,9 @@ SCRIPT_DIR=$( cd -- "$( dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )
 cd "$SCRIPT_DIR" || exit
 
 PORT="${PORT:-8080}"
-exec uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port "$PORT" --forwarded-allow-ips '*'
+if test -f docker_secret_key && test "$WEBUI_SECRET_KEY" = ""; then
+  echo Using generated DOCKER_SECRET_KEY
+  WEBUI_SECRET_KEY=`cat docker_secret_key`
+fi
+
+WEBUI_SECRET_KEY="$WEBUI_SECRET_KEY" exec uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port "$PORT" --forwarded-allow-ips '*'