diff --git a/auth/jwt.go b/auth/jwt.go
index 214ae48c8..12ccc62c6 100644
--- a/auth/jwt.go
+++ b/auth/jwt.go
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ func prepareOpts(opts map[string]string) (jwtSignMethod, jwtPubKeyPath, jwtPrivK
 			return "", "", "", ErrInvalidAuthOpts
 		}
 	}
-
+	if len(jwtSignMethod) == 0 {
+		return "", "", "", ErrInvalidAuthOpts
+	}
 	return jwtSignMethod, jwtPubKeyPath, jwtPrivKeyPath, nil
 }