diff --git a/examples/EmergencyManagement/web_gateway/app.py b/examples/EmergencyManagement/web_gateway/app.py
index d44f037..7897dd6 100644
--- a/examples/EmergencyManagement/web_gateway/app.py
+++ b/examples/EmergencyManagement/web_gateway/app.py
@@ -354,7 +354,9 @@ def _normalise_optional_hex(value: Optional[str]) -> Optional[str]:
 
     if isinstance(value, str):
         cleaned = value.strip()
-        return cleaned or None
+        if not cleaned:
+            return None
+        return cleaned.lower()
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/reticulum_openapi/integrations/fastapi/settings.py b/reticulum_openapi/integrations/fastapi/settings.py
index 6b08685..b733426 100644
--- a/reticulum_openapi/integrations/fastapi/settings.py
+++ b/reticulum_openapi/integrations/fastapi/settings.py
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ def load_lxmf_client_settings(
             config_data = {}
 
     settings = LXMFClientSettings(**config_data)
+    if settings.shared_instance_rpc_key:
+        settings.shared_instance_rpc_key = settings.shared_instance_rpc_key.lower()
     if require_server_identity and not settings.server_identity_hash:
         raise ValueError("server_identity_hash must be configured")
     return settings