diff --git a/cmd/neofs-node/config.go b/cmd/neofs-node/config.go
index b721ddbcf9..179a11048a 100644
--- a/cmd/neofs-node/config.go
+++ b/cmd/neofs-node/config.go
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func initCfg(path string) *cfg {
 		config.WithConfigFile(path),
 	)
 
-	key := nodeconfig.Wallet(appCfg)
+	key := nodeconfig.Key(appCfg)
 
 	var logPrm logger.Prm
 
diff --git a/cmd/neofs-node/config/node/config.go b/cmd/neofs-node/config/node/config.go
index 1883ce1c8f..d794ba02b4 100644
--- a/cmd/neofs-node/config/node/config.go
+++ b/cmd/neofs-node/config/node/config.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func Key(c *config.Config) *keys.PrivateKey {
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("can't read key: %w", err))
+		return Wallet(c)
 	}
 
 	return key