diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy_complete_app.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy_complete_app.yml
index 7cc3a347..5637797c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy_complete_app.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy_complete_app.yml
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ env:
   IBM_CLOUD_REGION: ${{ vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION || 'us-south' }}
   CR_NAMESPACE: ${{ vars.IBM_CR_NAMESPACE || 'rag_modulo' }}
   # ICR uses shortened region names: us-south -> us, eu-gb -> uk, ca-tor -> ca, etc.
-  ICR_REGION: ${{ vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'eu-gb' && 'uk' || (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'us-south' && 'us' || (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'us-east' && 'us' || (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'ca-tor' && 'ca' || vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION))) }}
+  ICR_REGION: ${{ vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'eu-gb' && 'uk' || (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'us-south' && 'us' ||
+    (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'us-east' && 'us' || (vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION == 'ca-tor' && 'ca' ||
+    vars.IBM_CLOUD_REGION))) }}
 
 # Prevent concurrent deployments to avoid conflicts
 concurrency:
@@ -341,7 +343,7 @@ jobs:
           APP_NAME: ${{ env.BACKEND_APP_NAME }}
           IBM_CLOUD_REGION: ${{ env.IBM_CLOUD_REGION }}
           IBM_CLOUD_RESOURCE_GROUP: ${{ vars.IBM_CLOUD_RESOURCE_GROUP || 'rag-modulo-deployment' }}
-          SKIP_AUTH: ${{ secrets.SKIP_AUTH }}
+          SKIP_AUTH: ${{ secrets.SKIP_AUTH || 'false' }}
           OIDC_DISCOVERY_ENDPOINT: ${{ secrets.OIDC_DISCOVERY_ENDPOINT }}
           IBM_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.IBM_CLIENT_ID }}
           IBM_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.IBM_CLIENT_SECRET }}