diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d423e1d94a..d1f65f6164 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 ### Added
 
  - #3558, Add the `admin-server-host` config to set the host for the admin server - @develop7
+ - #3607, Log to stderr when the JWT secret is less than 32 characters long - @laurenceisla
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
  - #2052, Dropped support for PostgreSQL 10 - @wolfgangwalther
  - #2052, Dropped support for PostgreSQL 11 - @wolfgangwalther
  - #3508, PostgREST now fails to start when `server-port` and `admin-server-port` config options are the same - @develop7
+ - #3607, PostgREST now fails to start when the JWT secret is less than 32 characters long - @laurenceisla
 
 ## [12.2.1] - 2024-06-27
 
diff --git a/src/PostgREST/Config.hs b/src/PostgREST/Config.hs
index 9e7d4884b9..57276ef659 100644
--- a/src/PostgREST/Config.hs
+++ b/src/PostgREST/Config.hs
@@ -220,18 +220,20 @@ readAppConfig dbSettings optPath prevDbUri roleSettings roleIsolationLvl = do
 
   case C.runParser (parser optPath env dbSettings roleSettings roleIsolationLvl) =<< mapLeft show conf of
     Left err ->
-      return . Left $ "Error in config: " <> err
-    Right config ->
-      Right <$> decodeLoadFiles config
+      return . Left $ "Error in config " <> err
+    Right parsedConfig ->
+      mapLeft show <$> decodeLoadFiles parsedConfig
   where
     -- Both C.ParseError and IOError are shown here
     loadConfig :: FilePath -> IO (Either SomeException C.Config)
     loadConfig = try . C.load
 
-    decodeLoadFiles :: AppConfig -> IO AppConfig
-    decodeLoadFiles parsedConfig =
-      decodeJWKS <$>
-        (decodeSecret =<< readSecretFile =<< readDbUriFile prevDbUri parsedConfig)
+    decodeLoadFiles :: AppConfig -> IO (Either IOException AppConfig)
+    decodeLoadFiles parsedConfig = try $
+      decodeJWKS =<<
+      decodeSecret =<<
+      readSecretFile =<<
+      readDbUriFile prevDbUri parsedConfig
 
 parser :: Maybe FilePath -> Environment -> [(Text, Text)] -> RoleSettings -> RoleIsolationLvl -> C.Parser C.Config AppConfig
 parser optPath env dbSettings roleSettings roleIsolationLvl =
@@ -459,18 +461,25 @@ decodeSecret conf@AppConfig{..} =
 -- There are three ways to specify `jwt-secret`: text secret, JSON Web Key
 -- (JWK), or JSON Web Key Set (JWKS). The first two are converted into a JwkSet
 -- with one key and the last is converted as is.
-decodeJWKS :: AppConfig -> AppConfig
-decodeJWKS conf =
-  conf { configJWKS = parseSecret <$> configJwtSecret conf }
-
-parseSecret :: ByteString -> JwkSet
+decodeJWKS :: AppConfig -> IO AppConfig
+decodeJWKS conf = do
+  jwks <- case configJwtSecret conf of
+    Just s  -> either fail (pure . Just) $ parseSecret s
+    Nothing -> pure Nothing
+  return $ conf { configJWKS = jwks }
+
+parseSecret :: ByteString -> Either [Char] JwkSet
 parseSecret bytes =
-  fromMaybe (maybe secret (\jwk' -> JWT.JwkSet [jwk']) maybeJWK)
-    maybeJWKSet
+  case maybeJWKSet of
+    Just jwk -> Right jwk
+    Nothing  -> maybe validateSecret (\jwk' -> Right $ JWT.JwkSet [jwk']) maybeJWK
   where
     maybeJWKSet = JSON.decodeStrict bytes :: Maybe JwkSet
     maybeJWK = JSON.decodeStrict bytes :: Maybe Jwk
     secret = JWT.JwkSet [JWT.SymmetricJwk bytes Nothing (Just JWT.Sig) (Just $ JWT.Signed JWT.HS256)]
+    validateSecret
+      | BS.length bytes < 32 = Left "The JWT secret must be at least 32 characters long."
+      | otherwise = Right secret
 
 -- | Read database uri from a separate file if `db-uri` is a filepath.
 readDbUriFile :: Maybe Text -> AppConfig -> IO AppConfig
diff --git a/test/io/configs/expected/no-defaults.config b/test/io/configs/expected/no-defaults.config
index e362e40c10..c2d33c5098 100644
--- a/test/io/configs/expected/no-defaults.config
+++ b/test/io/configs/expected/no-defaults.config
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ db-tx-end = "rollback-allow-override"
 db-uri = "tmp_db"
 jwt-aud = "https://postgrest.org"
 jwt-role-claim-key = ".\"user\"[0].\"real-role\""
-jwt-secret = "c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5"
+jwt-secret = "c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5aW5iYXNlNjQ="
 jwt-secret-is-base64 = true
 jwt-cache-max-lifetime = 86400
 log-level = "info"
diff --git a/test/io/configs/no-defaults-env.yaml b/test/io/configs/no-defaults-env.yaml
index 459f788aaa..0ab82a3c9b 100644
--- a/test/io/configs/no-defaults-env.yaml
+++ b/test/io/configs/no-defaults-env.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ PGRST_DB_URI: tmp_db
 PGRST_DB_USE_LEGACY_GUCS: false
 PGRST_JWT_AUD: 'https://postgrest.org'
 PGRST_JWT_ROLE_CLAIM_KEY: '.user[0]."real-role"'
-PGRST_JWT_SECRET: c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5
+PGRST_JWT_SECRET: c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5aW5iYXNlNjQ=
 PGRST_JWT_SECRET_IS_BASE64: true
 PGRST_JWT_CACHE_MAX_LIFETIME: 86400
 PGRST_LOG_LEVEL: info
diff --git a/test/io/configs/no-defaults.config b/test/io/configs/no-defaults.config
index 0256618398..5859d6b2a5 100644
--- a/test/io/configs/no-defaults.config
+++ b/test/io/configs/no-defaults.config
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ db-tx-end = "rollback-allow-override"
 db-uri = "tmp_db"
 jwt-aud = "https://postgrest.org"
 jwt-role-claim-key = ".user[0].\"real-role\""
-jwt-secret = "c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5"
+jwt-secret = "c2VjdXJpdHl0aHJvdWdob2JzY3VyaXR5aW5iYXNlNjQ="
 jwt-secret-is-base64 = true
 jwt-cache-max-lifetime = 86400
 log-level = "info"
diff --git a/test/io/test_io.py b/test/io/test_io.py
index f71e1594da..9eb2a89272 100644
--- a/test/io/test_io.py
+++ b/test/io/test_io.py
@@ -66,6 +66,19 @@ def test_read_secret_from_stdin_dbconfig(defaultenv):
         assert response.status_code == 200
 
 
+def test_secret_min_length(defaultenv):
+    "Should log error and not load the config when the secret is shorter than the minimum admitted length"
+
+    env = {**defaultenv, "PGRST_JWT_SECRET": "short_secret"}
+
+    with run(env=env, no_startup_stdout=False, wait_for_readiness=False) as postgrest:
+        exitCode = wait_until_exit(postgrest)
+        assert exitCode == 1
+
+        output = postgrest.read_stdout(nlines=1)
+        assert "The JWT secret must be at least 32 characters long." in output[0]
+
+
 def test_jwt_errors(defaultenv):
     "invalid JWT should throw error"
 
diff --git a/test/spec/SpecHelper.hs b/test/spec/SpecHelper.hs
index 0ee237804f..7e64d9e4a4 100644
--- a/test/spec/SpecHelper.hs
+++ b/test/spec/SpecHelper.hs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ validateOpenApiResponse headers = do
 
 
 baseCfg :: AppConfig
-baseCfg = let secret = Just $ encodeUtf8 "reallyreallyreallyreallyverysafe" in
+baseCfg = let secret = encodeUtf8 "reallyreallyreallyreallyverysafe" in
   AppConfig {
     configAppSettings               = [ ("app.settings.app_host", "localhost") , ("app.settings.external_api_secret", "0123456789abcdef") ]
   , configDbAggregates              = False
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ baseCfg = let secret = Just $ encodeUtf8 "reallyreallyreallyreallyverysafe" in
   , configDbPreConfig               = Nothing
   , configDbUri                     = "postgresql://"
   , configFilePath                  = Nothing
-  , configJWKS                      = parseSecret <$> secret
+  , configJWKS                      = rightToMaybe $ parseSecret secret
   , configJwtAudience               = Nothing
   , configJwtRoleClaimKey           = [JSPKey "role"]
-  , configJwtSecret                 = secret
+  , configJwtSecret                 = Just secret
   , configJwtSecretIsBase64         = False
   , configJwtCacheMaxLifetime       = 0
   , configLogLevel                  = LogCrit
@@ -196,35 +196,35 @@ testPlanEnabledCfg = baseCfg { configDbPlanEnabled = True }
 
 testCfgBinaryJWT :: AppConfig
 testCfgBinaryJWT =
-  let secret = Just . B64.decodeLenient $ "cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5dmVyeXNhZmU=" in
+  let secret = B64.decodeLenient "cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5dmVyeXNhZmU=" in
   baseCfg {
-    configJwtSecret = secret
-  , configJWKS = parseSecret <$> secret
+    configJwtSecret = Just secret
+  , configJWKS = rightToMaybe $ parseSecret secret
   }
 
 testCfgAudienceJWT :: AppConfig
 testCfgAudienceJWT =
-  let secret = Just . B64.decodeLenient $ "cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5dmVyeXNhZmU=" in
+  let secret = B64.decodeLenient "cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5cmVhbGx5dmVyeXNhZmU=" in
   baseCfg {
-    configJwtSecret = secret
+    configJwtSecret = Just secret
   , configJwtAudience = Just "youraudience"
-  , configJWKS = parseSecret <$> secret
+  , configJWKS = rightToMaybe $ parseSecret secret
   }
 
 testCfgAsymJWK :: AppConfig
 testCfgAsymJWK =
-  let secret = Just $ encodeUtf8 [str|{"alg":"RS256","e":"AQAB","key_ops":["verify"],"kty":"RSA","n":"0etQ2Tg187jb04MWfpuogYGV75IFrQQBxQaGH75eq_FpbkyoLcEpRUEWSbECP2eeFya2yZ9vIO5ScD-lPmovePk4Aa4SzZ8jdjhmAbNykleRPCxMg0481kz6PQhnHRUv3nF5WP479CnObJKqTVdEagVL66oxnX9VhZG9IZA7k0Th5PfKQwrKGyUeTGczpOjaPqbxlunP73j9AfnAt4XCS8epa-n3WGz1j-wfpr_ys57Aq-zBCfqP67UYzNpeI1AoXsJhD9xSDOzvJgFRvc3vm2wjAW4LEMwi48rCplamOpZToIHEPIaPzpveYQwDnB1HFTR1ove9bpKJsHmi-e2uzQ","use":"sig"}|]
+  let secret = encodeUtf8 [str|{"alg":"RS256","e":"AQAB","key_ops":["verify"],"kty":"RSA","n":"0etQ2Tg187jb04MWfpuogYGV75IFrQQBxQaGH75eq_FpbkyoLcEpRUEWSbECP2eeFya2yZ9vIO5ScD-lPmovePk4Aa4SzZ8jdjhmAbNykleRPCxMg0481kz6PQhnHRUv3nF5WP479CnObJKqTVdEagVL66oxnX9VhZG9IZA7k0Th5PfKQwrKGyUeTGczpOjaPqbxlunP73j9AfnAt4XCS8epa-n3WGz1j-wfpr_ys57Aq-zBCfqP67UYzNpeI1AoXsJhD9xSDOzvJgFRvc3vm2wjAW4LEMwi48rCplamOpZToIHEPIaPzpveYQwDnB1HFTR1ove9bpKJsHmi-e2uzQ","use":"sig"}|]
   in baseCfg {
-    configJwtSecret = secret
-  , configJWKS = parseSecret <$> secret
+    configJwtSecret = Just secret
+  , configJWKS = rightToMaybe $ parseSecret secret
   }
 
 testCfgAsymJWKSet :: AppConfig
 testCfgAsymJWKSet =
-  let secret = Just $ encodeUtf8 [str|{"keys": [{"alg":"RS256","e":"AQAB","key_ops":["verify"],"kty":"RSA","n":"0etQ2Tg187jb04MWfpuogYGV75IFrQQBxQaGH75eq_FpbkyoLcEpRUEWSbECP2eeFya2yZ9vIO5ScD-lPmovePk4Aa4SzZ8jdjhmAbNykleRPCxMg0481kz6PQhnHRUv3nF5WP479CnObJKqTVdEagVL66oxnX9VhZG9IZA7k0Th5PfKQwrKGyUeTGczpOjaPqbxlunP73j9AfnAt4XCS8epa-n3WGz1j-wfpr_ys57Aq-zBCfqP67UYzNpeI1AoXsJhD9xSDOzvJgFRvc3vm2wjAW4LEMwi48rCplamOpZToIHEPIaPzpveYQwDnB1HFTR1ove9bpKJsHmi-e2uzQ","use":"sig"}]}|]
+  let secret = encodeUtf8 [str|{"keys": [{"alg":"RS256","e":"AQAB","key_ops":["verify"],"kty":"RSA","n":"0etQ2Tg187jb04MWfpuogYGV75IFrQQBxQaGH75eq_FpbkyoLcEpRUEWSbECP2eeFya2yZ9vIO5ScD-lPmovePk4Aa4SzZ8jdjhmAbNykleRPCxMg0481kz6PQhnHRUv3nF5WP479CnObJKqTVdEagVL66oxnX9VhZG9IZA7k0Th5PfKQwrKGyUeTGczpOjaPqbxlunP73j9AfnAt4XCS8epa-n3WGz1j-wfpr_ys57Aq-zBCfqP67UYzNpeI1AoXsJhD9xSDOzvJgFRvc3vm2wjAW4LEMwi48rCplamOpZToIHEPIaPzpveYQwDnB1HFTR1ove9bpKJsHmi-e2uzQ","use":"sig"}]}|]
   in baseCfg {
-    configJwtSecret = secret
-  , configJWKS = parseSecret <$> secret
+    configJwtSecret = Just secret
+  , configJWKS = rightToMaybe $ parseSecret secret
   }
 
 testNonexistentSchemaCfg :: AppConfig