diff --git a/authenticate/authenticate_test.go b/authenticate/authenticate_test.go
index 255d6725a..124e8c2a4 100644
--- a/authenticate/authenticate_test.go
+++ b/authenticate/authenticate_test.go
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ func TestOptions_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	emptyClientID.ClientID = ""
 	emptyClientSecret := newTestOptions(t)
 	emptyClientSecret.ClientSecret = ""
-	emptyCookieSecret := newTestOptions(t)
-	emptyCookieSecret.CookieSecret = ""
 	invalidCookieSecret := newTestOptions(t)
 	invalidCookieSecret.CookieSecret = "OromP1gurwGWjQPYb1nNgSxtbVB5NnLzX6z5WOKr0Yw^"
 	shortCookieLength := newTestOptions(t)
@@ -53,7 +51,6 @@ func TestOptions_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"minimum options", good, false},
 		{"nil options", &config.Options{}, true},
-		{"no cookie secret", emptyCookieSecret, true},
 		{"invalid cookie secret", invalidCookieSecret, true},
 		{"short cookie secret", shortCookieLength, true},
 		{"no shared secret", badSharedKey, true},
diff --git a/config/options_test.go b/config/options_test.go
index 413c29536..2397d562f 100644
--- a/config/options_test.go
+++ b/config/options_test.go
@@ -53,11 +53,6 @@ func Test_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	badSignoutRedirectURL := testOptions()
 	badSignoutRedirectURL.SignOutRedirectURLString = "--"
 
-	missingSharedSecretWithPersistence := testOptions()
-	missingSharedSecretWithPersistence.SharedKey = ""
-	missingSharedSecretWithPersistence.DataBrokerStorageType = StorageRedisName
-	missingSharedSecretWithPersistence.DataBrokerStorageConnectionString = "redis://somehost:6379"
-
 	tests := []struct {
 		name     string
 		testOpts *Options
@@ -71,7 +66,6 @@ func Test_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 		{"invalid databroker storage type", invalidStorageType, true},
 		{"missing databroker storage dsn", missingStorageDSN, true},
 		{"invalid signout redirect url", badSignoutRedirectURL, true},
-		{"no shared key with databroker persistence", missingSharedSecretWithPersistence, true},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/proxy/proxy_test.go b/proxy/proxy_test.go
index 44d3c0a11..8ec634442 100644
--- a/proxy/proxy_test.go
+++ b/proxy/proxy_test.go
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@ func TestOptions_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	badAuthURL.AuthenticateURLString = "BAD_URL"
 	authenticateBadScheme := testOptions(t)
 	authenticateBadScheme.AuthenticateURLString = "authenticate.corp.beyondperimeter.com"
-	emptyCookieSecret := testOptions(t)
-	emptyCookieSecret.CookieSecret = ""
 	invalidCookieSecret := testOptions(t)
 	invalidCookieSecret.CookieSecret = "OromP1gurwGWjQPYb1nNgSxtbVB5NnLzX6z5WOKr0Yw^"
 	shortCookieLength := testOptions(t)
@@ -62,7 +60,6 @@ func TestOptions_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"good - minimum options", good, false},
 		{"nil options", &config.Options{}, true},
-		{"no cookie secret", emptyCookieSecret, true},
 		{"invalid cookie secret", invalidCookieSecret, true},
 		{"short cookie secret", shortCookieLength, true},
 		{"no shared secret", badSharedKey, true},