diff --git a/app/Console/Commands/SetGitlabCdVariables.php b/app/Console/Commands/SetGitlabCdVariables.php
index 229211d..25b2b26 100644
--- a/app/Console/Commands/SetGitlabCdVariables.php
+++ b/app/Console/Commands/SetGitlabCdVariables.php
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ class SetGitlabCdVariables extends Command
                         environment_scope: EnvironmentScope::production,
                         key: 'MAIL_ENCRYPTION',
                         value: 'tls',
+                        protected: true,
                     ))->isProjectDefault()->wasPrefixed(),
                 ],
                 'MAIL_HOST' => [