diff --git a/packages/auth-providers/dbAuth/api/src/shared.ts b/packages/auth-providers/dbAuth/api/src/shared.ts
index 552833411a36..ced1e85f6a04 100644
--- a/packages/auth-providers/dbAuth/api/src/shared.ts
+++ b/packages/auth-providers/dbAuth/api/src/shared.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { APIGatewayProxyEvent } from 'aws-lambda'
 import CryptoJS from 'crypto-js'
 
-import { getConfig } from '@redwoodjs/project-config'
+import { getConfig, getConfigPath } from '@redwoodjs/project-config'
 
 import * as DbAuthError from './errors'
 
@@ -125,8 +125,21 @@ export const hashPassword = (text: string, salt?: string) => {
 }
 
 export const cookieName = (name: string | undefined) => {
-  const port = getConfig().api?.port || 8911
+  const port = getPort()
   const cookieName = name?.replace('%port%', '' + port) ?? 'session'
 
   return cookieName
 }
+
+function getPort() {
+  let configPath
+
+  try {
+    configPath = getConfigPath()
+  } catch {
+    // If this throws, we're in a serverless environment, and the `redwood.toml` file doesn't exist.
+    return 8911
+  }
+
+  return getConfig(configPath).api.port
+}