diff --git a/internal/configuration/settings/openvpn.go b/internal/configuration/settings/openvpn.go
index 71eb98d2..af847dd8 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/settings/openvpn.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/settings/openvpn.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package settings
 
 import (
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ func validateOpenVPNClientCertificate(vpnProvider,
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	_, err = extract.PEM([]byte(clientCert))
+	_, err = base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(clientCert)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ func validateOpenVPNClientKey(vpnProvider, clientKey string) (err error) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	_, err = extract.PEM([]byte(clientKey))
+	_, err = base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(clientKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -232,9 +233,9 @@ func validateOpenVPNEncryptedKey(vpnProvider,
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	_, err = extract.PEM([]byte(encryptedPrivateKey))
+	_, err = base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(encryptedPrivateKey)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("extracting encrypted key: %w", err)
+		return err
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/env/helpers.go b/internal/configuration/sources/env/helpers.go
index 96a516d0..06a6a9d0 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/env/helpers.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/env/helpers.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package env
 
 import (
-	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
@@ -133,15 +132,6 @@ func lowerAndSplit(csv string) (values []string) {
 	return strings.Split(csv, ",")
 }
 
-func decodeBase64(b64String string) (decoded string, err error) {
-	b, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(b64String)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("cannot decode base64 string %q: %w",
-			b64String, err)
-	}
-	return string(b), nil
-}
-
 func unsetEnvKeys(envKeys []string, err error) (newErr error) {
 	newErr = err
 	for _, envKey := range envKeys {
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/env/openvpn.go b/internal/configuration/sources/env/openvpn.go
index a5bd3ba5..995e1e14 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/env/openvpn.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/env/openvpn.go
@@ -31,20 +31,9 @@ func (r *Reader) readOpenVPN() (
 		openVPN.Auth = &auth
 	}
 
-	openVPN.Cert, err = readBase64OrNil("OPENVPN_CERT")
-	if err != nil {
-		return openVPN, fmt.Errorf("environment variable OPENVPN_CERT: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	openVPN.Key, err = readBase64OrNil("OPENVPN_KEY")
-	if err != nil {
-		return openVPN, fmt.Errorf("environment variable OPENVPN_KEY: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	openVPN.EncryptedKey, err = readBase64OrNil("OPENVPN_ENCRYPTED_KEY")
-	if err != nil {
-		return openVPN, fmt.Errorf("environment variable OPENVPN_ENCRYPTED_KEY: %w", err)
-	}
+	openVPN.Cert = envToStringPtr("OPENVPN_CERT")
+	openVPN.Key = envToStringPtr("OPENVPN_KEY")
+	openVPN.EncryptedKey = envToStringPtr("OPENVPN_ENCRYPTED_KEY")
 
 	openVPN.KeyPassphrase = r.readOpenVPNKeyPassphrase()
 
@@ -111,20 +100,6 @@ func (r *Reader) readOpenVPNKeyPassphrase() (passphrase *string) {
 	return passphrase
 }
 
-func readBase64OrNil(envKey string) (valueOrNil *string, err error) {
-	value := getCleanedEnv(envKey)
-	if value == "" {
-		return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
-	}
-
-	decoded, err := decodeBase64(value)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return &decoded, nil
-}
-
 func (r *Reader) readPIAEncryptionPreset() (presetPtr *string) {
 	_, preset := r.getEnvWithRetro(
 		"PRIVATE_INTERNET_ACCESS_OPENVPN_ENCRYPTION_PRESET",
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/files/helpers.go b/internal/configuration/sources/files/helpers.go
index aba1a5fd..83c5842f 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/files/helpers.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/files/helpers.go
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 package files
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/openvpn/extract"
 )
 
 // ReadFromFile reads the content of the file as a string.
@@ -32,3 +35,21 @@ func ReadFromFile(filepath string) (s *string, err error) {
 	content = strings.TrimSuffix(content, "\n")
 	return &content, nil
 }
+
+func readPEMFile(filepath string) (base64Ptr *string, err error) {
+	pemData, err := ReadFromFile(filepath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if pemData == nil {
+		return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
+	}
+
+	base64Data, err := extract.PEM([]byte(*pemData))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("extracting base64 encoded data from PEM content: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &base64Data, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/files/openvpn.go b/internal/configuration/sources/files/openvpn.go
index 896526b7..6bfb3a0e 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/files/openvpn.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/files/openvpn.go
@@ -15,17 +15,16 @@ const (
 )
 
 func (r *Reader) readOpenVPN() (settings settings.OpenVPN, err error) {
-	settings.Key, err = ReadFromFile(OpenVPNClientKeyPath)
+	settings.Key, err = readPEMFile(OpenVPNClientKeyPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("client key: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	settings.Cert, err = ReadFromFile(OpenVPNClientCertificatePath)
+	settings.Cert, err = readPEMFile(OpenVPNClientCertificatePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("client certificate: %w", err)
 	}
-
-	settings.EncryptedKey, err = ReadFromFile(openVPNEncryptedKey)
+	settings.EncryptedKey, err = readPEMFile(openVPNEncryptedKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("reading encrypted key file: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/helpers.go b/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/helpers.go
index effa54fb..fba038d6 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/helpers.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/helpers.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package secrets
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/configuration/sources/files"
+	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/openvpn/extract"
 )
 
 // getCleanedEnv returns an environment variable value with
@@ -25,3 +27,22 @@ func readSecretFileAsStringPtr(secretPathEnvKey, defaultSecretPath string) (
 	}
 	return files.ReadFromFile(path)
 }
+
+func readPEMSecretFile(secretPathEnvKey, defaultSecretPath string) (
+	base64Ptr *string, err error) {
+	pemData, err := readSecretFileAsStringPtr(secretPathEnvKey, defaultSecretPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading secret file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if pemData == nil {
+		return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil
+	}
+
+	base64Data, err := extract.PEM([]byte(*pemData))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("extracting base64 encoded data from PEM content: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &base64Data, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/openvpn.go b/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/openvpn.go
index 303ad9e7..e1028d5a 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/openvpn.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/sources/secrets/openvpn.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func readOpenVPN() (
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("cannot read password file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	settings.Key, err = readSecretFileAsStringPtr(
+	settings.Key, err = readPEMSecretFile(
 		"OPENVPN_CLIENTKEY_SECRETFILE",
 		"/run/secrets/openvpn_clientkey",
 	)
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func readOpenVPN() (
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("cannot read client key file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	settings.EncryptedKey, err = readSecretFileAsStringPtr(
+	settings.EncryptedKey, err = readPEMSecretFile(
 		"OPENVPN_ENCRYPTED_KEY_SECRETFILE",
 		"/run/secrets/openvpn_encrypted_key",
 	)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func readOpenVPN() (
 		return settings, fmt.Errorf("reading key passphrase file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	settings.Cert, err = readSecretFileAsStringPtr(
+	settings.Cert, err = readPEMSecretFile(
 		"OPENVPN_CLIENTCRT_SECRETFILE",
 		"/run/secrets/openvpn_clientcrt",
 	)
diff --git a/internal/provider/utils/openvpn.go b/internal/provider/utils/openvpn.go
index 357f778e..077278da 100644
--- a/internal/provider/utils/openvpn.go
+++ b/internal/provider/utils/openvpn.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants/openvpn"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/models"
-	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/openvpn/extract"
 )
 
 type OpenVPNProviderSettings struct {
@@ -191,21 +190,15 @@ func OpenVPNConfig(provider OpenVPNProviderSettings,
 
 	if *settings.EncryptedKey != "" {
 		lines.add("askpass", openvpn.AskPassPath)
-		keyData, err := extract.PEM([]byte(*settings.EncryptedKey))
-		panicOnError(err, "cannot extract PEM encrypted key")
-		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnEncryptedKey(keyData))
+		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnEncryptedKey(*settings.EncryptedKey))
 	}
 
 	if *settings.Cert != "" {
-		certData, err := extract.PEM([]byte(*settings.Cert))
-		panicOnError(err, "cannot extract OpenVPN certificate")
-		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnCert(certData))
+		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnCert(*settings.Cert))
 	}
 
 	if *settings.Key != "" {
-		keyData, err := extract.PEM([]byte(*settings.Key))
-		panicOnError(err, "cannot extract OpenVPN key")
-		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnKey(keyData))
+		lines.addLines(WrapOpenvpnKey(*settings.Key))
 	}
 
 	lines.addLines(provider.ExtraLines)
@@ -254,14 +247,6 @@ func defaultStringSlice(value, defaultValue []string) (
 	return result
 }
 
-func panicOnError(err error, context string) {
-	if err == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	panicMessage := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", context, err)
-	panic(panicMessage)
-}
-
 func WrapOpenvpnCA(certificate string) (lines []string) {
 	return []string{
 		"<ca>",