diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/README.md b/client/internal/certproof/README.md
index b127cfc63..2babb9349 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/README.md
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ to one WireGuard peer key and cannot be replayed by another peer.
 | Windows | signed-in user's `CurrentUser\MY` | a helper launched with that session's token |
 | Linux and others | PEM directory, `NB_CERT_STORE_DIR` or `/etc/netbird/certs` | the daemon, directly |
 | Linux | a `TSS2 PRIVATE KEY` file in that directory, signed by the TPM | the daemon, through `/dev/tpmrm0` |
-| Linux | a PKCS#11 token named by `NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI`, such as tpm2-pkcs11 | the daemon, through the token's module, in builds with the `pkcs11` tag |
+| Linux | a PKCS#11 token, tpm2-pkcs11 for one, enabled by `CertPKCS11PIN` in the profile config | the daemon, through the token's module, in builds with the `pkcs11` tag |
 
 macOS and Windows both keep per-user certificates out of reach of a privileged daemon,
 and both are handled the same way: the daemon reads the machine store itself and
@@ -147,18 +147,28 @@ NB_TPM_DEVICE=/tmp/swtpm.sock go test ./client/internal/certproof/ -run TestColl
 
 Distributions that follow Red Hat's guidance reach the TPM through tpm2-pkcs11, a PKCS#11
 module whose token holds both the key and, after `tpm2_ptool addcert`, the certificate.
-The store reads that token when `NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI` names it with an RFC 7512 URI:
+The store reads that token when the profile config, `/etc/netbird/config.json` by default,
+carries the token's user PIN:
 
+```json
+"CertPKCS11PIN": "1234"
 ```
-NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI='pkcs11:token=netbird?module-path=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtpm2_pkcs11.so&pin-source=file:/etc/netbird/pkcs11.pin'
+
+That alone opens the first token the p11-kit proxy exposes, which is tpm2-pkcs11 on a
+stock setup that has registered it. `CertPKCS11URI`, an RFC 7512 URI, narrows that down
+on a host with several tokens or without p11-kit:
+
+```json
+"CertPKCS11URI": "pkcs11:token=netbird?module-path=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libtpm2_pkcs11.so"
 ```
 
 `token` selects the token by label, or the first token present when absent. `module-path`
 names the library to load; `module-name=tpm2_pkcs11` resolves to `libtpm2_pkcs11.so` on
 the loader's search path, and with neither the p11-kit proxy is loaded, which exposes every
-module the system has registered. `pin-source` points at a file holding the user PIN and
-`pin-value` carries it inline; without either no login happens, and tpm2-pkcs11 then shows
-no private keys at all. Every other attribute is ignored.
+module the system has registered. The URI may carry the PIN itself, as `pin-value` inline
+or `pin-source` naming a file, and `CertPKCS11PIN` takes precedence over both. Without any
+PIN no login happens, and tpm2-pkcs11 then shows no private keys at all. Every other
+attribute is ignored.
 
 Certificates and private keys are paired by `CKA_ID`, which is what `tpm2_ptool addcert`
 and `pkcs11-tool` set. Chains are completed from the other certificates on the token. Each
@@ -166,15 +176,17 @@ operation opens a session, logs in, works, logs out and closes, so no token hand
 outlives a call, and the PEM directory keeps working when the token does not: the two are
 queried together and a failing token is logged rather than hiding file certificates.
 
-Two consequences of the PIN are worth knowing. It is a secret on disk, so the PIN file
-should be root-only. And a wrong PIN counts against the TPM's dictionary-attack lockout,
-which is shared with everything else on the machine that uses the TPM.
+Two consequences of the PIN are worth knowing. It is a secret on disk, which the profile
+config already is: it holds the WireGuard private key and is written readable by root
+alone, and the debug bundle's config dump leaves `CertPKCS11PIN` out. And a wrong PIN
+counts against the TPM's dictionary-attack lockout, which is shared with everything else
+on the machine that uses the TPM.
 
 The module is loaded at runtime without cgo, through `purego`, which means the binary is
 dynamically linked against libc. The store is therefore compiled in only with `-tags pkcs11`
 on linux/amd64 and linux/arm64: the deb and rpm packages are built that way, since they
 target glibc distributions, while the release tarballs and the Alpine-based container
-images keep the fully static build. Without the tag, setting `NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI` logs that
+images keep the fully static build. Without the tag, setting `CertPKCS11PIN` logs that
 the build lacks the support.
 
 To exercise the path without hardware, initialise a SoftHSM token and run the end-to-end
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/collect_darwin.go b/client/internal/certproof/collect_darwin.go
index 342229180..e24dec780 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/collect_darwin.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/collect_darwin.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const helperTimeout = 30 * time.Second
 // installs device identities, and reaches the console user's login keychain only by
 // launching a helper into that user's session. A Mac sitting at the login window
 // therefore yields device proofs alone.
-func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte) []certposture.Proof {
+func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte, _ PKCS11Config) []certposture.Proof {
 	challenges := certificateChallenges(checks)
 	if len(challenges) == 0 {
 		logNoChallenges(checks)
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/collect_other.go b/client/internal/certproof/collect_other.go
index 0891743ec..59119cfd1 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/collect_other.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/collect_other.go
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
 )
 
-// CollectProofs answers the certificate challenges in checks from the platform store.
-// Only macOS and Windows keep per-user certificates out of reach of a privileged
-// daemon, so every other platform reads its store in the daemon itself.
-func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte) []certposture.Proof {
-	return Collect(ctx, DefaultStore(), checks, peerKey)
+// CollectProofs answers the certificate challenges in checks from the platform store,
+// joined by the PKCS#11 token that token names when it names one. Only macOS and
+// Windows keep per-user certificates out of reach of a privileged daemon, so every
+// other platform reads its store in the daemon itself.
+func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte, token PKCS11Config) []certposture.Proof {
+	return Collect(ctx, storeWithToken(token), checks, peerKey)
 }
 
 // helperStore is the store the helper reads. Nothing launches a helper on these
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/collect_windows.go b/client/internal/certproof/collect_windows.go
index f83e3177b..e1a5621a7 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/collect_windows.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/collect_windows.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const helperTimeout = 30 * time.Second
 // Intune enrol device certificates, and reaches the signed-in user's store by launching
 // a helper with that session's token. A machine at the sign-in screen therefore proves
 // device certificates alone.
-func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte) []certposture.Proof {
+func CollectProofs(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, peerKey []byte, _ PKCS11Config) []certposture.Proof {
 	challenges := certificateChallenges(checks)
 	if len(challenges) == 0 {
 		logNoChallenges(checks)
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store.go b/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store.go
index ca060ac52..c8af67fad 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store.go
@@ -14,22 +14,32 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/pkcs11"
 )
 
-const PKCS11URIEnv = "NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI"
+// PKCS11Config names the token whose certificates the store yields. URI is an RFC 7512
+// PKCS#11 URI, or empty for the first token the p11-kit proxy exposes. PIN is the user
+// PIN, and takes precedence over a pin-value or pin-source the URI carries.
+type PKCS11Config struct {
+	URI string
+	PIN string
+}
 
 // PKCS11Store yields the identities of a PKCS#11 token, which is how tpm2-pkcs11 exposes
 // TPM-held keys on Linux. Certificates and keys are paired by CKA_ID, the convention
 // tpm2_ptool addcert and pkcs11-tool follow, and every signature happens on the token.
 type PKCS11Store struct {
 	uri *pkcs11.URI
+	pin string
 }
 
-// NewPKCS11Store reads the token, module and PIN source from an RFC 7512 PKCS#11 URI.
-func NewPKCS11Store(uri string) (*PKCS11Store, error) {
-	parsed, err := pkcs11.ParseURI(uri)
+// NewPKCS11Store parses cfg.URI, standing in the bare defaults when it is empty.
+func NewPKCS11Store(cfg PKCS11Config) (*PKCS11Store, error) {
+	if cfg.URI == "" {
+		return &PKCS11Store{uri: &pkcs11.URI{}, pin: cfg.PIN}, nil
+	}
+	parsed, err := pkcs11.ParseURI(cfg.URI)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &PKCS11Store{uri: parsed}, nil
+	return &PKCS11Store{uri: parsed, pin: cfg.PIN}, nil
 }
 
 func (s *PKCS11Store) Candidates(_ context.Context) ([]Candidate, error) {
@@ -74,13 +84,20 @@ func (s *PKCS11Store) open() (*pkcs11.Session, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	pin, err := s.uri.PIN()
+	pin, err := s.userPIN()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return module.OpenSession(s.uri.Token, pin)
 }
 
+func (s *PKCS11Store) userPIN() ([]byte, error) {
+	if s.pin != "" {
+		return []byte(s.pin), nil
+	}
+	return s.uri.PIN()
+}
+
 type tokenCertificate struct {
 	cert *x509.Certificate
 	id   []byte
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store_test.go b/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store_test.go
index 0db2bfc3c..4396d64cd 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/pkcs11store_test.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func TestCollect_PKCS11TokenEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	if uri == "" {
 		t.Skipf("set %s to a PKCS#11 URI with a PIN to run", testPKCS11URIEnv)
 	}
-	store, err := NewPKCS11Store(uri)
+	store, err := NewPKCS11Store(PKCS11Config{URI: uri})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	if _, err := pkcs11.Load(store.uri.Module()); errors.Is(err, pkcs11.ErrUnsupported) {
 		t.Skip(err)
@@ -187,3 +187,30 @@ func keyAttributes(t *testing.T, key crypto.Signer) []pkcs11.Attribute {
 func attr(typ uint, value []byte) pkcs11.Attribute {
 	return pkcs11.Attribute{Type: typ, Value: value}
 }
+
+func TestNewPKCS11Store_PIN(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		cfg        PKCS11Config
+		wantPIN    []byte
+		wantModule string
+	}{
+		{"pin alone opens the first p11-kit token", PKCS11Config{PIN: "1234"}, []byte("1234"), pkcs11.DefaultModule},
+		{"pin field wins over pin-value", PKCS11Config{URI: "pkcs11:?module-path=/lib/x.so&pin-value=0000", PIN: "1234"}, []byte("1234"), "/lib/x.so"},
+		{"uri pin-value stands in for a missing field", PKCS11Config{URI: "pkcs11:?pin-value=0000"}, []byte("0000"), pkcs11.DefaultModule},
+		{"no pin at all means no login", PKCS11Config{URI: "pkcs11:token=netbird"}, nil, pkcs11.DefaultModule},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			store, err := NewPKCS11Store(tt.cfg)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			pin, err := store.userPIN()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantPIN, pin, "PIN, nil meaning no login")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantModule, store.uri.Module(), "module to load")
+		})
+	}
+
+	_, err := NewPKCS11Store(PKCS11Config{URI: "not-a-pkcs11-uri", PIN: "1234"})
+	assert.Error(t, err, "a malformed URI must not be silently replaced by the defaults")
+}
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/store_other.go b/client/internal/certproof/store_other.go
index 07e2d4526..8b5931570 100644
--- a/client/internal/certproof/store_other.go
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/store_other.go
@@ -2,23 +2,22 @@
 
 package certproof
 
-import (
-	"os"
+import log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-)
-
-// DefaultStore is the PEM directory named by NB_CERT_STORE_DIR, or /etc/netbird/certs,
-// joined by the PKCS#11 token named by NB_CERT_PKCS11_URI when that is set.
+// DefaultStore is the PEM directory named by NB_CERT_STORE_DIR, or /etc/netbird/certs.
 func DefaultStore() Store {
-	files := NewFileStore(StoreDir())
-	uri := os.Getenv(PKCS11URIEnv)
-	if uri == "" {
+	return NewFileStore(StoreDir())
+}
+
+// storeWithToken joins DefaultStore with the PKCS#11 token cfg names, when it names one.
+func storeWithToken(cfg PKCS11Config) Store {
+	files := DefaultStore()
+	if cfg.URI == "" && cfg.PIN == "" {
 		return files
 	}
-	token, err := NewPKCS11Store(uri)
+	token, err := NewPKCS11Store(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("ignoring %s: %v", PKCS11URIEnv, err)
+		log.Warnf("ignoring PKCS#11 URI: %v", err)
 		return files
 	}
 	return Stores{files, token}
diff --git a/client/internal/certproof/store_other_test.go b/client/internal/certproof/store_other_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2383e6c0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/internal/certproof/store_other_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+//go:build !darwin && !windows
+
+package certproof
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestStoreWithToken(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.IsType(t, &FileStore{}, storeWithToken(PKCS11Config{}), "nothing configured reads the PEM directory alone")
+	assert.IsType(t, &FileStore{}, storeWithToken(PKCS11Config{URI: "not-a-pkcs11-uri"}), "an invalid URI must not hide the PEM directory")
+
+	for name, cfg := range map[string]PKCS11Config{
+		"pin alone": {PIN: "1234"},
+		"uri alone": {URI: "pkcs11:token=netbird?pin-value=1234"},
+	} {
+		store, ok := storeWithToken(cfg).(Stores)
+		if assert.True(t, ok, "%s joins the token to the PEM directory", name) {
+			assert.Len(t, store, 2, name)
+			assert.IsType(t, &PKCS11Store{}, store[1], name)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/internal/connect.go b/client/internal/connect.go
index 88d829d2f..8798e3e4c 100644
--- a/client/internal/connect.go
+++ b/client/internal/connect.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/device"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/netstack"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/certproof"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/lazyconn"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/listener"
@@ -671,6 +672,8 @@ func createEngineConfig(key wgtypes.Key, config *profilemanager.Config, peerConf
 
 		LazyConnection: lazyconn.ParseState(config.LazyConnection),
 
+		CertPKCS11: certproof.PKCS11Config{URI: config.CertPKCS11URI, PIN: config.CertPKCS11PIN},
+
 		MTU:     selectMTU(config.MTU, peerConfig.Mtu),
 		LogPath: logPath,
 
diff --git a/client/internal/engine.go b/client/internal/engine.go
index a19f319ff..118f17760 100644
--- a/client/internal/engine.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine.go
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ type EngineConfig struct {
 
 	MTU uint16
 
+	CertPKCS11 certproof.PKCS11Config
+
 	// for debug bundle generation
 	ProfileConfig *profilemanager.Config
 
@@ -1296,7 +1298,7 @@ func (e *Engine) applyInfoFlags(info *system.Info) {
 // certificates reachable on this device, signing each challenge nonce for our peer key.
 func (e *Engine) attachCertificateProofs(info *system.Info, checks []*mgmProto.Checks) {
 	peerKey := e.config.WgPrivateKey.PublicKey()
-	info.CertificateProofs = certproof.CollectProofs(e.ctx, checks, peerKey[:])
+	info.CertificateProofs = certproof.CollectProofs(e.ctx, checks, peerKey[:], e.config.CertPKCS11)
 }
 
 func (e *Engine) currentSystemInfo(ctx context.Context) *system.Info {
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
index 412f81b5c..c27bd8cee 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
@@ -186,6 +186,15 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	ClientCertKeyPair *tls.Certificate `json:"-"`
 
+	// CertPKCS11PIN is the user PIN of the PKCS#11 token, tpm2-pkcs11 for one, whose
+	// certificates answer certificate posture checks on Linux. Setting it enables the
+	// token store; see client/internal/certproof/README.md.
+	CertPKCS11PIN string
+
+	// CertPKCS11URI is the RFC 7512 URI selecting that token and its module. Empty means
+	// the first token the p11-kit proxy exposes.
+	CertPKCS11URI string
+
 	// LazyConnection is the MDM-managed lazy-connection override ("on"/"off"/"").
 	// Runtime-only: re-derived from MDM policy on each load, never persisted.
 	LazyConnection string `json:"-"`