diff --git a/ziti/cmd/edge/login.go b/ziti/cmd/edge/login.go
index f1fa783d3..754f4a06c 100644
--- a/ziti/cmd/edge/login.go
+++ b/ziti/cmd/edge/login.go
@@ -123,8 +123,10 @@ func (o *loginOptions) Run() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if certAbs, err := filepath.Abs(o.CaCert); err == nil {
-		o.CaCert = certAbs
+	if o.CaCert != "" {
+		if certAbs, err := filepath.Abs(o.CaCert); err == nil {
+			o.CaCert = certAbs
+		}
 	}
 
 	if ctrlUrl.Path == "" {