diff --git a/server/src/middleware/session.ts b/server/src/middleware/session.ts
index 69eb243..7393ebe 100644
--- a/server/src/middleware/session.ts
+++ b/server/src/middleware/session.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ declare module "http" {
 }
 const sessionMiddleware = session({
     store: new PGSession({ pool: db, createTableIfMissing: true }),
-    secret: process.env.SESSION_SECRET || "whatever this is",
+    secret: process.env.SESSION_SECRET || "make sure to change this!",
     resave: false,
     saveUninitialized: false,
     name: "chessu",