diff --git a/src/xmpp_api/config/config.py b/src/xmpp_api/config/config.py
index 69cfb47..0ae6472 100644
--- a/src/xmpp_api/config/config.py
+++ b/src/xmpp_api/config/config.py
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 import os
-from typing import Annotated
+from typing import Annotated, Self
 import logging
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, model_validator
 from pydantic_yaml import parse_yaml_file_as
 from fastapi import Depends
 
+from xmpp_api.exceptions.base import ConfigurationException
+
+
+log = logging.getLogger("config")
+
 
 class _ComponentConfig(BaseModel):
     # The JID of the component
@@ -15,7 +20,20 @@ class _ComponentConfig(BaseModel):
     server: str
 
     # The component's secret.
-    secret: str
+    secret: str | None = Field(default=None)
+
+    # Optional file to read the secret from
+    secret_file: str | None = Field(default=None)
+
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def validate_secret(self) -> Self:
+        if self.secret is None and self.secret_file is None:
+            raise ConfigurationException("No component secret is specified")
+        if self.secret is not None and self.secret_file is not None:
+            log.warn(
+                "Both secret and secret_file specified! secret_file takes precedence"
+            )
+        return self
 
 
 class _Config(BaseModel):
@@ -26,9 +44,6 @@ class _Config(BaseModel):
     component: _ComponentConfig
 
 
-log = logging.getLogger("config")
-
-
 def load_config() -> _Config:
     """
     Load the application config
@@ -40,7 +55,15 @@ def load_config() -> _Config:
 
     log.info(f"Reading configuration from {config_path}")
     with open(config_path, "r", encoding="utf8") as f:
-        return parse_yaml_file_as(_Config, f)
+        config = parse_yaml_file_as(_Config, f)
+
+    # Read the secret from a file, if specified
+    if config.component.secret_file is not None:
+        log.info("Reading component secret from %s", config.component.secret_file)
+        with open(config.component.secret_file, "r", encoding="utf8") as f:
+            config.component.secret = f.read().strip().replace("\n", "")
+
+    return config
 
 
 ConfigDep = Annotated[_Config, Depends(load_config)]
diff --git a/src/xmpp_api/exceptions/base.py b/src/xmpp_api/exceptions/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbebae8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/xmpp_api/exceptions/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+class ConfigurationException(Exception):
+    """
+    Exception that is raised when there is an issue with
+    the configuration.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, msg: str):
+        super().__init__(msg)