diff --git a/app/Actions/Database/StartDragonfly.php b/app/Actions/Database/StartDragonfly.php
index 8327cf2dfe..58d1607aa8 100644
--- a/app/Actions/Database/StartDragonfly.php
+++ b/app/Actions/Database/StartDragonfly.php
@@ -250,22 +250,16 @@ class StartDragonfly
     {
         $environment_variables = collect();
         $this->resolvedRedisPassword = (string) $this->database->dragonfly_password;
+        $passwordVariable = $this->database->serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable();
         foreach ($this->database->runtime_environment_variables as $env) {
-            $usesSecretManager = $this->database->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($env);
-            if ($env->key === 'REDIS_PASSWORD' && ! $env->is_shared && ! $usesSecretManager) {
-                $env->update(['value' => $this->database->dragonfly_password]);
-            }
             $rawValue = (string) $this->database->resolveSecretManagerEnvironmentVariableValue($env);
             $resolvedValue = (string) $this->database->formatEnvironmentVariableValue($env, $rawValue);
-            // Credentials below are placed directly in the compose file (healthcheck, command).
-            $composeFileValue = $this->database->formatComposeFileValue($env, $rawValue);
             $environment_variables->push($env->key.'='.$resolvedValue);
-            if ($env->key === 'REDIS_PASSWORD') {
-                if ($env->is_shared && ! $usesSecretManager) {
-                    $this->database->update(['dragonfly_password' => $rawValue]);
-                }
-                $this->resolvedRedisPassword = $composeFileValue;
-                $this->redisPasswordFromSecretManager = $usesSecretManager;
+            // A REDIS_PASSWORD variable overrides the stored password, which stays unchanged.
+            if ($passwordVariable?->is($env) && $rawValue !== '') {
+                // Credentials below are placed directly in the compose file (healthcheck, command).
+                $this->resolvedRedisPassword = $this->database->formatComposeFileValue($env, $rawValue);
+                $this->redisPasswordFromSecretManager = $this->database->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($env);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/app/Actions/Database/StartKeydb.php b/app/Actions/Database/StartKeydb.php
index 6bd3c4b236..770d055001 100644
--- a/app/Actions/Database/StartKeydb.php
+++ b/app/Actions/Database/StartKeydb.php
@@ -250,22 +250,16 @@ class StartKeydb
     {
         $environment_variables = collect();
         $this->resolvedRedisPassword = (string) $this->database->keydb_password;
+        $passwordVariable = $this->database->serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable();
         foreach ($this->database->runtime_environment_variables as $env) {
-            $usesSecretManager = $this->database->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($env);
-            if ($env->key === 'REDIS_PASSWORD' && ! $env->is_shared && ! $usesSecretManager) {
-                $env->update(['value' => $this->database->keydb_password]);
-            }
             $rawValue = (string) $this->database->resolveSecretManagerEnvironmentVariableValue($env);
             $resolvedValue = (string) $this->database->formatEnvironmentVariableValue($env, $rawValue);
-            // Credentials below are placed directly in the compose file (healthcheck, command).
-            $composeFileValue = $this->database->formatComposeFileValue($env, $rawValue);
             $environment_variables->push($env->key.'='.$resolvedValue);
-            if ($env->key === 'REDIS_PASSWORD') {
-                if ($env->is_shared && ! $usesSecretManager) {
-                    $this->database->update(['keydb_password' => $rawValue]);
-                }
-                $this->resolvedRedisPassword = $composeFileValue;
-                $this->redisPasswordFromSecretManager = $usesSecretManager;
+            // A REDIS_PASSWORD variable overrides the stored password, which stays unchanged.
+            if ($passwordVariable?->is($env) && $rawValue !== '') {
+                // Credentials below are placed directly in the compose file (healthcheck, command).
+                $this->resolvedRedisPassword = $this->database->formatComposeFileValue($env, $rawValue);
+                $this->redisPasswordFromSecretManager = $this->database->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($env);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/app/Models/StandaloneDragonfly.php b/app/Models/StandaloneDragonfly.php
index e3d70534dc..15dea750f8 100644
--- a/app/Models/StandaloneDragonfly.php
+++ b/app/Models/StandaloneDragonfly.php
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ class StandaloneDragonfly extends BaseModel
             get: function () {
                 $scheme = $this->enable_ssl ? 'rediss' : 'redis';
                 $port = $this->enable_ssl ? 6380 : 6379;
-                $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->dragonfly_password);
+                $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->connectionPassword());
                 $url = "{$scheme}://:{$encodedPass}@{$this->uuid}:{$port}/0";
 
                 if ($this->enable_ssl && $this->ssl_mode === 'verify-ca') {
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ class StandaloneDragonfly extends BaseModel
                         return null;
                     }
                     $scheme = $this->enable_ssl ? 'rediss' : 'redis';
-                    $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->dragonfly_password);
+                    $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->connectionPassword());
                     $url = "{$scheme}://:{$encodedPass}@{$serverIp}:{$this->public_port}/0";
 
                     if ($this->enable_ssl && $this->ssl_mode === 'verify-ca') {
@@ -369,6 +369,47 @@ class StandaloneDragonfly extends BaseModel
         return $this->morphMany(EnvironmentVariable::class, 'resourceable');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The REDIS_PASSWORD variable that sets the server password instead of the stored password.
+     * Databases created before this release (legacy_password_quoting) keep their v4.3.23 server
+     * password, the stored one, unless the variable reads a remote secret.
+     */
+    public function serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable(): ?EnvironmentVariable
+    {
+        $environmentVariable = $this->runtime_environment_variables()->where('key', 'REDIS_PASSWORD')->first();
+
+        if (! $environmentVariable) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if ($this->legacy_password_quoting && ! $this->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($environmentVariable)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $environmentVariable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The server password for connection URLs. A remote secret is not fetched here, so the URL
+     * shows its reference instead of a stale or wrong password.
+     */
+    public function connectionPassword(): string
+    {
+        $environmentVariable = $this->serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable();
+
+        if ($environmentVariable) {
+            $password = $this->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($environmentVariable)
+                ? (string) $environmentVariable->value
+                : (string) $this->resolveSecretManagerEnvironmentVariableValue($environmentVariable);
+
+            if ($password !== '') {
+                return $password;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return (string) $this->dragonfly_password;
+    }
+
     public function persistentStorages()
     {
         return $this->morphMany(LocalPersistentVolume::class, 'resource');
diff --git a/app/Models/StandaloneKeydb.php b/app/Models/StandaloneKeydb.php
index 5961ead8ce..35818a8742 100644
--- a/app/Models/StandaloneKeydb.php
+++ b/app/Models/StandaloneKeydb.php
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ class StandaloneKeydb extends BaseModel
             get: function () {
                 $scheme = $this->enable_ssl ? 'rediss' : 'redis';
                 $port = $this->enable_ssl ? 6380 : 6379;
-                $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->keydb_password);
+                $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->connectionPassword());
                 $url = "{$scheme}://:{$encodedPass}@{$this->uuid}:{$port}/0";
 
                 if ($this->enable_ssl && $this->ssl_mode === 'verify-ca') {
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class StandaloneKeydb extends BaseModel
                         return null;
                     }
                     $scheme = $this->enable_ssl ? 'rediss' : 'redis';
-                    $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->keydb_password);
+                    $encodedPass = rawurlencode($this->connectionPassword());
                     $url = "{$scheme}://:{$encodedPass}@{$serverIp}:{$this->public_port}/0";
 
                     if ($this->enable_ssl && $this->ssl_mode === 'verify-ca') {
@@ -370,6 +370,47 @@ class StandaloneKeydb extends BaseModel
         return $this->morphMany(EnvironmentVariable::class, 'resourceable');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The REDIS_PASSWORD variable that sets the server password instead of the stored password.
+     * Databases created before this release (legacy_password_quoting) keep their v4.3.23 server
+     * password, the stored one, unless the variable reads a remote secret.
+     */
+    public function serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable(): ?EnvironmentVariable
+    {
+        $environmentVariable = $this->runtime_environment_variables()->where('key', 'REDIS_PASSWORD')->first();
+
+        if (! $environmentVariable) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if ($this->legacy_password_quoting && ! $this->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($environmentVariable)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $environmentVariable;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The server password for connection URLs. A remote secret is not fetched here, so the URL
+     * shows its reference instead of a stale or wrong password.
+     */
+    public function connectionPassword(): string
+    {
+        $environmentVariable = $this->serverPasswordEnvironmentVariable();
+
+        if ($environmentVariable) {
+            $password = $this->environmentVariableUsesSecretManager($environmentVariable)
+                ? (string) $environmentVariable->value
+                : (string) $this->resolveSecretManagerEnvironmentVariableValue($environmentVariable);
+
+            if ($password !== '') {
+                return $password;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return (string) $this->keydb_password;
+    }
+
     public function persistentStorages()
     {
         return $this->morphMany(LocalPersistentVolume::class, 'resource');
diff --git a/tests/Feature/KeydbDragonflyLegacyPasswordQuotingTest.php b/tests/Feature/KeydbDragonflyLegacyPasswordQuotingTest.php
index 703a52f306..883ae97d84 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/KeydbDragonflyLegacyPasswordQuotingTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/KeydbDragonflyLegacyPasswordQuotingTest.php
@@ -197,30 +197,58 @@ it('quotes shell control characters in the password of a database created after
     'pipe' => 'x|y',
 ]);
 
-it('runs with the stored password and syncs a plain REDIS_PASSWORD variable to it', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+it('runs with a plain REDIS_PASSWORD variable instead of the stored password without changing either', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
     $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'storedpass']);
     $env = $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => 'envpass']);
 
     $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
 
+    $service = legacyPasswordQuotingStartedService($this->executor, $database->uuid);
+    expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, "'envpass'"))
+        ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('envpass')
+        ->and($service['environment'])->toContain('REDIS_PASSWORD=envpass')
+        ->and($env->fresh()->value)->toBe('envpass')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('storedpass');
+})->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
+
+it('runs with the stored password again after the REDIS_PASSWORD variable is removed', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+    $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'storedpass']);
+    $env = $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => 'envpass']);
+    $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
+
+    $env->delete();
+    $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
+
     $service = legacyPasswordQuotingStartedService($this->executor, $database->uuid);
     expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, "'storedpass'"))
         ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('storedpass')
-        ->and($service['environment'])->toContain('REDIS_PASSWORD=storedpass')
-        ->and($env->fresh()->value)->toBe('storedpass')
-        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('storedpass');
+        ->and($service['environment'])->toContain('REDIS_PASSWORD=storedpass');
+})->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
+
+it('runs with the stored password when the REDIS_PASSWORD variable is empty', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+    $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'storedpass']);
+    $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => '']);
+
+    $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
+
+    $service = legacyPasswordQuotingStartedService($this->executor, $database->uuid);
+    expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, "'storedpass'"))
+        ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('storedpass');
 })->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
 
 it('keeps the exact v4.3.23 command of a legacy database with a different plain REDIS_PASSWORD variable', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
     $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'stored;pass']);
     DB::table($database->getTable())->where('id', $database->id)->update(['legacy_password_quoting' => true]);
-    $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => 'envpass']);
+    $env = $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => 'envpass']);
 
     $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
 
     $service = legacyPasswordQuotingStartedService($this->executor, $database->uuid);
     expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, 'stored;pass'))
         ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('stored;pass')
+        ->and($service['environment'])->toContain('REDIS_PASSWORD=envpass')
+        ->and($env->fresh()->value)->toBe('envpass')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('stored;pass')
         ->and($database->fresh()->legacy_password_quoting)->toBeTrue();
 })->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
 
@@ -246,7 +274,7 @@ it('runs with a remote secret REDIS_PASSWORD without storing it', function (stri
         ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('storedpass');
 })->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
 
-it('copies a shared REDIS_PASSWORD variable into the stored password', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+it('runs with a shared REDIS_PASSWORD variable without storing it', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
     SharedEnvironmentVariable::query()->create([
         'key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD',
         'value' => 'sharedpass',
@@ -262,5 +290,67 @@ it('copies a shared REDIS_PASSWORD variable into the stored password', function
     expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, "'sharedpass'"))
         ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('sharedpass')
         ->and($env->fresh()->value)->toBe('{{team.REDIS_PASSWORD}}')
-        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('sharedpass');
+        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('storedpass');
+})->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
+
+it('keeps the stored password of a legacy database with a shared REDIS_PASSWORD variable', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+    SharedEnvironmentVariable::query()->create([
+        'key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD',
+        'value' => 'sharedpass',
+        'type' => 'team',
+        'team_id' => $this->environment->project->team_id,
+    ]);
+    $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'stored;pass']);
+    DB::table($database->getTable())->where('id', $database->id)->update(['legacy_password_quoting' => true]);
+    $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => '{{team.REDIS_PASSWORD}}']);
+
+    $start::run($database->fresh(), new Activity);
+
+    $service = legacyPasswordQuotingStartedService($this->executor, $database->uuid);
+    expect($service['command'])->toBe(sprintf($commandFormat, 'stored;pass'))
+        ->and($service['healthcheck'][3])->toBe('stored;pass')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->{$passwordColumn})->toBe('stored;pass')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->legacy_password_quoting)->toBeTrue();
+})->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
+
+it('shows the password the server uses in the connection URLs', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+    SharedEnvironmentVariable::query()->create([
+        'key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD',
+        'value' => 'shared/pass',
+        'type' => 'team',
+        'team_id' => $this->environment->project->team_id,
+    ]);
+    $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'stored/pass', 'is_public' => true, 'public_port' => 16379]);
+    expect($database->fresh()->internal_db_url)->toContain(':stored%2Fpass@')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->external_db_url)->toContain(':stored%2Fpass@');
+
+    $env = $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => 'env/pass']);
+    expect($database->fresh()->internal_db_url)->toContain(':env%2Fpass@')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->external_db_url)->toContain(':env%2Fpass@');
+
+    $env->update(['value' => '{{team.REDIS_PASSWORD}}']);
+    expect($database->fresh()->internal_db_url)->toContain(':shared%2Fpass@')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->external_db_url)->toContain(':shared%2Fpass@');
+
+    DB::table($database->getTable())->where('id', $database->id)->update(['legacy_password_quoting' => true]);
+    expect($database->fresh()->internal_db_url)->toContain(':stored%2Fpass@')
+        ->and($database->fresh()->external_db_url)->toContain(':stored%2Fpass@');
+})->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');
+
+it('shows the unresolved remote secret reference in the connection URL without fetching it', function (string $create, string $start, string $passwordColumn, string $commandFormat) {
+    Http::fake();
+    $token = IntegrationToken::query()->create([
+        'team_id' => $this->environment->project->team_id,
+        'provider' => 'doppler',
+        'name' => 'Doppler',
+        'token' => 'the-secret-token',
+        'capabilities' => ['secrets'],
+    ]);
+    $database = $create($this->environment->id, $this->destination, [$passwordColumn => 'storedpass']);
+    $database->secretManagerLink()->create(['integration_token_id' => $token->id]);
+    $database->runtime_environment_variables()->create(['key' => 'REDIS_PASSWORD', 'value' => '{{vault.REDIS_PASSWORD}}']);
+
+    expect($database->fresh()->internal_db_url)->toContain(':'.rawurlencode('{{vault.REDIS_PASSWORD}}').'@')
+        ->not->toContain('storedpass');
+    Http::assertNothingSent();
 })->with('legacy-password-quoting-engines');