diff --git a/api/src/middlewares/authenticateToken.ts b/api/src/middlewares/authenticateToken.ts
index 1cc8dd5..9543080 100644
--- a/api/src/middlewares/authenticateToken.ts
+++ b/api/src/middlewares/authenticateToken.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const authenticateToken = (
   tokenType: 'accessToken' | 'refreshToken' = 'accessToken'
 ) => {
   const { MODE } = process.env
-  if (MODE === 'desktop') return next()
+  if (MODE?.trim() === 'desktop') return next()
 
   const authHeader = req.headers['authorization']
   const token = authHeader?.split(' ')[1]
diff --git a/api/src/middlewares/desktopRestrict.ts b/api/src/middlewares/desktopRestrict.ts
index 7c744b0..0f45aa7 100644
--- a/api/src/middlewares/desktopRestrict.ts
+++ b/api/src/middlewares/desktopRestrict.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 export const desktopRestrict = (req: any, res: any, next: any) => {
   const { MODE } = process.env
-  if (MODE === 'desktop')
+  if (MODE?.trim() === 'desktop')
     return res.status(403).send('Not Allowed while in Desktop Mode.')
 
   next()
diff --git a/api/src/middlewares/verifyAdmin.ts b/api/src/middlewares/verifyAdmin.ts
index 69d5010..2d94a7e 100644
--- a/api/src/middlewares/verifyAdmin.ts
+++ b/api/src/middlewares/verifyAdmin.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 export const verifyAdmin = (req: any, res: any, next: any) => {
   const { MODE } = process.env
-  if (MODE === 'desktop') return next()
+  if (MODE?.trim() === 'desktop') return next()
 
   const { user } = req
   if (!user?.isAdmin) return res.status(401).send('Admin account required')
diff --git a/api/src/routes/api/auth.ts b/api/src/routes/api/auth.ts
index 42b0599..db7e91c 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/api/auth.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/api/auth.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const populateClients = async () => {
 
 export const connectDB = () => {
   const { MODE } = process.env
-  if (MODE === 'desktop') {
+  if (MODE?.trim() === 'desktop') {
     console.log('Running in Destop Mode, no DB to connect.')
     return
   }
diff --git a/api/src/routes/web/web.ts b/api/src/routes/web/web.ts
index d247736..3006d01 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/web/web.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/web/web.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ webRouter.get('/', async (_, res) => {
   const indexHtmlPath = path.join(getWebBuildFolderPath(), 'index.html')
 
   const { MODE } = process.env
-  if (MODE === 'desktop') {
+  if (MODE?.trim() === 'desktop') {
     const content = await readFile(indexHtmlPath)
 
     const codeToInject = `