diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ed0c42e..d05f6c6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ Configurable envs:
 - `BASE_PATH`: Base path or prefix for Web UI.
 - `API_BASE_URL`: Garage admin API endpoint URL.
 - `API_ADMIN_KEY`: Admin API key.
+- `API_ADMIN_KEY_FILE`: File to read the Admin API key from (overrides `API_ADMIN_KEY`)
 - `S3_REGION`: S3 Region.
 - `S3_ENDPOINT_URL`: S3 Endpoint url.
 
diff --git a/backend/utils/garage.go b/backend/utils/garage.go
index bde29ab..1819851 100644
--- a/backend/utils/garage.go
+++ b/backend/utils/garage.go
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ func (g *garage) GetS3Region() string {
 }
 
 func (g *garage) GetAdminKey() string {
+	keyPath := os.Getenv("API_ADMIN_KEY_FILE")
+	if len(keyPath) > 0 {
+		key, err := os.ReadFile(keyPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return string(key)
+	}
+	
 	key := os.Getenv("API_ADMIN_KEY")
 	if len(key) > 0 {
 		return key