diff --git a/modules/tls_mgm/tls_mgm.c b/modules/tls_mgm/tls_mgm.c
index 29b1241bb62..4540263ae35 100644
--- a/modules/tls_mgm/tls_mgm.c
+++ b/modules/tls_mgm/tls_mgm.c
@@ -642,11 +642,21 @@ static int init_tls_dom(struct tls_domain *d)
 	}
 
 	if (!d->cert.s) {
-		init_flags |= TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL;
-		LM_NOTICE("no certificate for tls domain '%.*s' defined, using default '%s'\n",
-				d->name.len, ZSW(d->name.s), tls_cert_file);
-		d->cert.s = tls_cert_file;
-		d->cert.len = len(tls_cert_file);
+		/* Client domains can operate without a certificate (RFC 8446 4.4.2.4,
+		 * RFC 5246 7.4.6) - an empty certificate message will be sent if the
+		 * server requests one. Server domains require a certificate. */
+		if (d->flags & DOM_FLAG_SRV) {
+			init_flags |= TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL;
+			LM_NOTICE("no certificate for tls server domain '%.*s' defined, "
+					"using default '%s'\n",
+					d->name.len, ZSW(d->name.s), tls_cert_file);
+			d->cert.s = tls_cert_file;
+			d->cert.len = len(tls_cert_file);
+		} else {
+			LM_INFO("no certificate for tls client domain '%.*s', "
+					"will not send client certificate\n",
+					d->name.len, ZSW(d->name.s));
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!d->ca.s) {
@@ -722,6 +732,15 @@ static int init_tls_domains(struct tls_domain **dom)
 	prev = NULL;
 	while (d) {
 		if (!d->pkey.s) {
+			/* Client domains without a certificate don't need a private key */
+			if (!d->cert.s && (d->flags & DOM_FLAG_CLI)) {
+				LM_DBG("no private key needed for tls client domain '%.*s' "
+						"(no certificate configured)\n",
+						d->name.len, ZSW(d->name.s));
+				prev = d;
+				d = d->next;
+				continue;
+			}
 			LM_NOTICE("no private key for tls domain '%.*s' defined, using default '%s'\n",
 					d->name.len, ZSW(d->name.s), tls_pkey_file);
 			d->pkey.s = tls_pkey_file;
diff --git a/modules/tls_openssl/openssl_config.c b/modules/tls_openssl/openssl_config.c
index 45d3059bee2..2086574a132 100644
--- a/modules/tls_openssl/openssl_config.c
+++ b/modules/tls_openssl/openssl_config.c
@@ -831,14 +831,16 @@ int openssl_init_tls_dom(struct tls_domain *d, int init_flags)
 		}
 
 		/*
-		 * load certificate
+		 * load certificate (optional for client domains per RFC 8446 4.4.2.4)
 		 */
-		if (!(d->flags & DOM_FLAG_DB) || init_flags & TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL) {
-			if (load_certificate(((void**)d->ctx)[i], d->cert.s) < 0)
-				return -1;
-		} else
-			if (load_certificate_db(((void**)d->ctx)[i], &d->cert) < 0)
-				return -1;
+		if (d->cert.s) {
+			if (!(d->flags & DOM_FLAG_DB) || init_flags & TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL) {
+				if (load_certificate(((void**)d->ctx)[i], d->cert.s) < 0)
+					return -1;
+			} else
+				if (load_certificate_db(((void**)d->ctx)[i], &d->cert) < 0)
+					return -1;
+		}
 
 		/**
 		 * load crl from directory
diff --git a/modules/tls_wolfssl/wolfssl_config.c b/modules/tls_wolfssl/wolfssl_config.c
index f1394309e39..1ec28d3d416 100644
--- a/modules/tls_wolfssl/wolfssl_config.c
+++ b/modules/tls_wolfssl/wolfssl_config.c
@@ -532,12 +532,15 @@ int _wolfssl_init_tls_dom(struct tls_domain *d, int init_flags)
 		goto end;
 	}
 
-	if (!(d->flags & DOM_FLAG_DB) || init_flags & TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL) {
-		if (load_certificate(d->ctx, d->cert.s) < 0)
-			goto end;
-	} else {
-		if (load_certificate_db(d->ctx, &d->cert) < 0)
-			goto end;
+	/* load certificate (optional for client domains per RFC 8446 4.4.2.4) */
+	if (d->cert.s) {
+		if (!(d->flags & DOM_FLAG_DB) || init_flags & TLS_DOM_CERT_FILE_FL) {
+			if (load_certificate(d->ctx, d->cert.s) < 0)
+				goto end;
+		} else {
+			if (load_certificate_db(d->ctx, &d->cert) < 0)
+				goto end;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (d->crl_directory && load_crl(d->ctx, d->crl_directory,