diff --git a/backend/src/config/index.ts b/backend/src/config/index.ts
index ec83fde6f..08fb1862e 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config/index.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const SENTRY_DSN = process.env.SENTRY_DSN!;
 const SITE_URL = process.env.SITE_URL!;
 const SMTP_HOST = process.env.SMTP_HOST!;
 const SMTP_SECURE = process.env.SMTP_SECURE! === 'true' || false;
-const SMTP_PORT = process.env.SMTP_PORT! || 587;
+const SMTP_PORT = parseInt(process.env.SMTP_PORT!) || 587;
 const SMTP_USERNAME = process.env.SMTP_USERNAME!;
 const SMTP_PASSWORD = process.env.SMTP_PASSWORD!;
 const SMTP_FROM_ADDRESS = process.env.SMTP_FROM_ADDRESS!;