diff --git a/server/config/custom.js b/server/config/custom.js
index d33db095..f074575f 100644
--- a/server/config/custom.js
+++ b/server/config/custom.js
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ module.exports.custom = {
   attachmentsPath: path.join(sails.config.appPath, 'private', 'attachments'),
   attachmentsUrl: `${process.env.BASE_URL}/attachments`,
 
-  defaultAdminEmail: process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL,
+  defaultAdminEmail:
+    process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL && process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL.toLowerCase(),
 
   oidcIssuer: process.env.OIDC_ISSUER,
   oidcClientId: process.env.OIDC_CLIENT_ID,
diff --git a/server/db/seeds/default.js b/server/db/seeds/default.js
index 137cf569..19c2e536 100644
--- a/server/db/seeds/default.js
+++ b/server/db/seeds/default.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const buildData = () => {
     data.name = process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_NAME;
   }
   if (process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME) {
-    data.username = process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME;
+    data.username = process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME.toLowerCase();
   }
 
   return data;
@@ -24,16 +24,17 @@ exports.seed = async (knex) => {
     return;
   }
 
+  const email = process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL.toLowerCase();
   const data = buildData();
 
   try {
     await knex('user_account').insert({
       ...data,
-      email: process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL,
+      email,
       subscribeToOwnCards: false,
       createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
     });
   } catch (error) {
-    await knex('user_account').update(data).where('email', process.env.DEFAULT_ADMIN_EMAIL);
+    await knex('user_account').update(data).where('email', email);
   }
 };