diff --git a/config/initializers/seek_configuration.rb b/config/initializers/seek_configuration.rb
index f798cc3e7b..2eb50c23bb 100644
--- a/config/initializers/seek_configuration.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/seek_configuration.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def load_seek_config_defaults!
   Seek::Config.default :sycamore_enabled,false
   Seek::Config.default :jerm_enabled,false
   Seek::Config.default :email_enabled,false
-  Seek::Config.default :smtp, {:address => '', :port => '25', :domain => '', :authentication => :plain, :user_name => '', :password => '', :enable_starttls_auto=>false}
+  Seek::Config.default :smtp, { address: '', port: '25', domain: '', authentication: '', user_name: '', password: '', enable_starttls_auto: false }
   Seek::Config.default :noreply_sender, 'no-reply@sysmo-db.org'
   Seek::Config.default :support_email_address, ''
   Seek::Config.default :solr_enabled, false
diff --git a/test/unit/config_test.rb b/test/unit/config_test.rb
index e117342561..6252188afd 100644
--- a/test/unit/config_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/config_test.rb
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class ConfigTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
   end
 
   test 'smtp_settings authentication' do
-    assert_equal :plain, Seek::Config.smtp_settings('authentication')
+    assert_equal '', Seek::Config.smtp_settings('authentication')
   end
   test 'noreply_sender' do
     assert_equal 'no-reply@sysmo-db.org', Seek::Config.noreply_sender