diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/__init__.py b/jrnl/encryption/__init__.py
index 7fbb8e46..aed00297 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/__init__.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/__init__.py
@@ -1,22 +1,31 @@
 # Copyright © 2012-2022 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+from enum import Enum
 from importlib import import_module
 
+from .BaseEncryption import BaseEncryption
+
+
+class EncryptionMethods(str, Enum):
+    NONE = "NoEncryption"
+    JRNLV1 = "Jrnlv1Encryption"
+    JRNLV2 = "Jrnlv2Encryption"
+
+
 ENCRYPTION_METHODS = {
     # config: classname (as string)
-    "default": "NoEncryption",
-    False: "NoEncryption",
-    True: "Jrnlv2Encryption",
-    "jrnlv1": "Jrnlv1Encryption",
-    "jrnlv2": "Jrnlv2Encryption",
+    True: EncryptionMethods.JRNLV2,  # the default
+    False: EncryptionMethods.NONE,
+    "jrnlv1": EncryptionMethods.JRNLV1,
+    "jrnlv2": EncryptionMethods.JRNLV2,
 }
 
 
-def determine_encryption_method(config):
+def determine_encryption_method(config: str | bool) -> BaseEncryption:
     key = config
     if isinstance(config, str):
         key = config.lower()
 
-    my_class = ENCRYPTION_METHODS.get(key, "default")
+    my_class = ENCRYPTION_METHODS[key]
 
     return getattr(import_module(f"jrnl.encryption.{my_class}"), my_class)