diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1d5b5c07be..3065898d86 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ We are grateful to the community for contributing bugfixes and improvements! Ple
 | <a name="input_cluster_addons_timeouts"></a> [cluster\_addons\_timeouts](#input\_cluster\_addons\_timeouts) | Create, update, and delete timeout configurations for the cluster addons | `map(string)` | `{}` | no |
 | <a name="input_cluster_compute_config"></a> [cluster\_compute\_config](#input\_cluster\_compute\_config) | Configuration block for the cluster compute configuration | `any` | `{}` | no |
 | <a name="input_cluster_enabled_log_types"></a> [cluster\_enabled\_log\_types](#input\_cluster\_enabled\_log\_types) | A list of the desired control plane logs to enable. For more information, see Amazon EKS Control Plane Logging documentation (https://docs.aws.amazon.com/eks/latest/userguide/control-plane-logs.html) | `list(string)` | <pre>[<br/>  "audit",<br/>  "api",<br/>  "authenticator"<br/>]</pre> | no |
-| <a name="input_cluster_encryption_config"></a> [cluster\_encryption\_config](#input\_cluster\_encryption\_config) | Configuration block with encryption configuration for the cluster. To disable secret encryption, set this value to `{}` | `any` | <pre>{<br/>  "resources": [<br/>    "secrets"<br/>  ]<br/>}</pre> | no |
+| <a name="input_cluster_encryption_config"></a> [cluster\_encryption\_config](#input\_cluster\_encryption\_config) | Configuration block with encryption configuration for the cluster. To disable secret encryption, set this value to `{}` or `null` | `any` | <pre>{<br/>  "resources": [<br/>    "secrets"<br/>  ]<br/>}</pre> | no |
 | <a name="input_cluster_encryption_policy_description"></a> [cluster\_encryption\_policy\_description](#input\_cluster\_encryption\_policy\_description) | Description of the cluster encryption policy created | `string` | `"Cluster encryption policy to allow cluster role to utilize CMK provided"` | no |
 | <a name="input_cluster_encryption_policy_name"></a> [cluster\_encryption\_policy\_name](#input\_cluster\_encryption\_policy\_name) | Name to use on cluster encryption policy created | `string` | `null` | no |
 | <a name="input_cluster_encryption_policy_path"></a> [cluster\_encryption\_policy\_path](#input\_cluster\_encryption\_policy\_path) | Cluster encryption policy path | `string` | `null` | no |
diff --git a/main.tf b/main.tf
index 18933422f5..91d074ec31 100644
--- a/main.tf
+++ b/main.tf
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ locals {
   cluster_role = try(aws_iam_role.this[0].arn, var.iam_role_arn)
 
   create_outposts_local_cluster    = length(var.outpost_config) > 0
-  enable_cluster_encryption_config = length(var.cluster_encryption_config) > 0 && !local.create_outposts_local_cluster
+  enable_cluster_encryption_config = try(length(var.cluster_encryption_config), 0) > 0 && !local.create_outposts_local_cluster
 
   auto_mode_enabled = try(var.cluster_compute_config.enabled, false)
 }
diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index 855c2133ec..b4a3cbb89a 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ variable "outpost_config" {
 }
 
 variable "cluster_encryption_config" {
-  description = "Configuration block with encryption configuration for the cluster. To disable secret encryption, set this value to `{}`"
+  description = "Configuration block with encryption configuration for the cluster. To disable secret encryption, set this value to `{}` or `null`"
   type        = any
   default = {
     resources = ["secrets"]