diff --git a/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml b/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
index 3e0304c8be..dcd935166a 100644
--- a/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
+++ b/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ spec:
                 secretKeyRef:
                   name: user-backfiller
                   key: github_access_token
+                  optional: true
             - name: INVITE_LINK_PREFIX
               value: ${INVITE_LINK_PREFIX}
             - name: RUST_BACKTRACE