diff --git a/templates/gitea/servicemonitor.yaml b/templates/gitea/servicemonitor.yaml
index 831801b..502a1a8 100644
--- a/templates/gitea/servicemonitor.yaml
+++ b/templates/gitea/servicemonitor.yaml
@@ -38,6 +38,6 @@ spec:
       credentials:
         name: {{ include "gitea.metrics-secret-name" . }}
         key: token
-        optional: true
+        optional: false
     {{- end }}
 {{- end -}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/unittests/servicemonitor/servicemonitor-enabled.yaml b/unittests/servicemonitor/servicemonitor-enabled.yaml
index a07a017..29d83ca 100644
--- a/unittests/servicemonitor/servicemonitor-enabled.yaml
+++ b/unittests/servicemonitor/servicemonitor-enabled.yaml
@@ -67,4 +67,4 @@ tests:
                 credentials:
                   name: gitea-unittests-metrics-secret
                   key: token
-                  optional: true
+                  optional: false