@@ -62,12 +62,16 @@ func runCreate(dockerCli *command.DockerCli, opts *serviceOptions) error {

 		return err

 	}

-	// parse and validate secrets

-	secrets, err := parseSecrets(apiClient, opts.secrets.Value())

-	if err != nil {

-		return err

+	specifiedSecrets := opts.secrets.Value()

+	if len(specifiedSecrets) > 0 {

+		// parse and validate secrets

+		secrets, err := parseSecrets(apiClient, specifiedSecrets)

+		if err != nil {

+			return err

+		}

+		service.TaskTemplate.ContainerSpec.Secrets = secrets

+

 	}

-	service.TaskTemplate.ContainerSpec.Secrets = secrets

 	ctx := context.Background()