diff --git a/src/page/firstRun/view.js b/src/page/firstRun/view.js
index f3a24ea..ffeb8f8 100644
--- a/src/page/firstRun/view.js
+++ b/src/page/firstRun/view.js
@@ -300,12 +300,19 @@ class FirstRunScreen extends React.PureComponent {
     if (NativeModules.UtilityModule) {
       const newPassword = this.state.walletPassword ? this.state.walletPassword : '';
       NativeModules.UtilityModule.setSecureValue(Constants.KEY_WALLET_PASSWORD, newPassword);
-      Lbry.wallet_encrypt({ new_password: newPassword }).then(() => {
-        // fresh account, new password set
+      if (newPassword.trim().length === 0) {
+        // blank password. Do not encrypt
         getSync(newPassword);
         setClientSetting(Constants.SETTING_DEVICE_WALLET_SYNCED, true);
         this.closeFinalPage();
-      });
+      } else {
+        Lbry.wallet_encrypt({ new_password: newPassword }).then(() => {
+          // fresh account, new password set
+          getSync(newPassword);
+          setClientSetting(Constants.SETTING_DEVICE_WALLET_SYNCED, true);
+          this.closeFinalPage();
+        });
+      }
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/src/page/verification/internal/sync-verify-page.js b/src/page/verification/internal/sync-verify-page.js
index 952bc49..8185196 100644
--- a/src/page/verification/internal/sync-verify-page.js
+++ b/src/page/verification/internal/sync-verify-page.js
@@ -37,11 +37,17 @@ class SyncVerifyPage extends React.PureComponent {
       if (!hasSyncedWallet) {
         // fresh account with no sync
         const newPassword = this.state.password ? this.state.password : '';
-        Lbry.wallet_encrypt({ new_password: newPassword }).then(() => {
+        if (newPassword.trim().length === 0) {
           getSync(newPassword);
           setClientSetting(Constants.SETTING_DEVICE_WALLET_SYNCED, true);
           navigation.goBack();
-        });
+        } else {
+          Lbry.wallet_encrypt({ new_password: newPassword }).then(() => {
+            getSync(newPassword);
+            setClientSetting(Constants.SETTING_DEVICE_WALLET_SYNCED, true);
+            navigation.goBack();
+          });
+        }
       } else {
         syncApply(syncHash, syncData, this.state.password ? this.state.password : '');
       }