diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 5379a16ff..45a620847 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS = env("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS", None)
 OTEL_SERVICE_NAME = env("OTEL_SERVICE_NAME", None)
 
 TWO_FACTOR_LOGIN_MAX_SECONDS = 60
-if HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO:
 
-SECURE_PROXY_SSL_HEADER = env.bool("SECURE_PROXY_SSL_HEADER", false)
+HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO = env.bool("SECURE_PROXY_SSL_HEADER", false)
+if HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO:
     SECURE_PROXY_SSL_HEADER = ("HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO", "https")