diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index b29f7cbc4..8412d1990 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## Changes in 0.26.9 (2023-04-18)
+
+🐛 Bugfixes
+
+- Cross-signing: Setup cross-signing with empty auth session ([#1774](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-ios-sdk/pull/1774))
+
+
 ## Changes in 0.26.8 (2023-04-18)
 
 🙌 Improvements
diff --git a/MatrixSDK.podspec b/MatrixSDK.podspec
index bd29e618e..ecd9a2d63 100644
--- a/MatrixSDK.podspec
+++ b/MatrixSDK.podspec
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
 
   s.name         = "MatrixSDK"
-  s.version      = "0.26.8"
+  s.version      = "0.26.9"
   s.summary      = "The iOS SDK to build apps compatible with Matrix (https://www.matrix.org)"
 
   s.description  = <<-DESC
diff --git a/MatrixSDK/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2.swift b/MatrixSDK/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2.swift
index 2c165967c..d46a64837 100644
--- a/MatrixSDK/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2.swift
+++ b/MatrixSDK/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2.swift
@@ -217,8 +217,9 @@ class MXCrossSigningV2: NSObject, MXCrossSigning {
             let session = authSession.session,
             let userId = restClient.credentials?.userId
         else {
-            log.error("Missing parameters")
-            throw Error.missingAuthSession
+            // Try to setup cross-signing without authentication parameters in case if a grace period is enabled
+            log.warning("Setting up cross-signing without authentication parameters")
+            return [:]
         }
 
         return [
diff --git a/MatrixSDK/MatrixSDKVersion.m b/MatrixSDK/MatrixSDKVersion.m
index b8ab06bb4..b65d29446 100644
--- a/MatrixSDK/MatrixSDKVersion.m
+++ b/MatrixSDK/MatrixSDKVersion.m
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 
 #import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
 
-NSString *const MatrixSDKVersion = @"0.26.8";
+NSString *const MatrixSDKVersion = @"0.26.9";
diff --git a/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests.swift b/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests.swift
index 617eb4486..2de42cdb8 100644
--- a/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests.swift
+++ b/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CrossSigning/MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests.swift
@@ -21,19 +21,74 @@ import MatrixSDKCrypto
 
 class MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests: XCTestCase {
     
+    class RestClientStub: MXRestClientStub {
+        var stubbedAuthSession: MXAuthenticationSession?
+        
+        override var credentials: MXCredentials! {
+            let cred = MXCredentials()
+            cred.userId = "Alice"
+            cred.deviceId = "XYZ"
+            return cred
+        }
+        
+        override func authSession(
+            toUploadDeviceSigningKeys success: ((MXAuthenticationSession?) -> Void)!,
+            failure: ((Error?) -> Void)!
+        ) -> MXHTTPOperation! {
+            success(stubbedAuthSession)
+            return MXHTTPOperation()
+        }
+    }
+    
     var crypto: CryptoCrossSigningStub!
     var crossSigning: MXCrossSigningV2!
-    var restClient: MXRestClientStub!
+    var restClient: RestClientStub!
     
     override func setUp() {
         crypto = CryptoCrossSigningStub()
-        restClient = MXRestClientStub()
+        restClient = RestClientStub()
         crossSigning = MXCrossSigningV2(
             crossSigning: crypto,
             restClient: restClient
         )
     }
     
+    // MARK: - Setup
+    
+    func test_setup_canSetupWithoutAuthSession() {
+        let exp = expectation(description: "exp")
+        crossSigning.setup(withPassword: "pass") {
+            XCTAssertEqual(self.crypto.spyAuthParams as? [String: String], [:])
+            exp.fulfill()
+        } failure: {
+            XCTFail("Failed setting up cross signing with error - \($0)")
+            exp.fulfill()
+        }
+        waitForExpectations(timeout: 1)
+    }
+    
+    func test_setup_canSetupWitAuthSession() {
+        let exp = expectation(description: "exp")
+        restClient.stubbedAuthSession = MXAuthenticationSession()
+        restClient.stubbedAuthSession?.session = "123"
+        
+        crossSigning.setup(withPassword: "pass") {
+            XCTAssertEqual(self.crypto.spyAuthParams as? [String: String], [
+                "session": "123",
+                "user": "Alice",
+                "password": "pass",
+                "type": kMXLoginFlowTypePassword
+            ])
+            exp.fulfill()
+        } failure: {
+            XCTFail("Failed setting up cross signing with error - \($0)")
+            exp.fulfill()
+        }
+        waitForExpectations(timeout: 1)
+    }
+    
+    // MARK: - State
+    
     func test_state_notBootstrapped() {
         XCTAssertEqual(crossSigning.state, .notBootstrapped)
     }
@@ -104,6 +159,8 @@ class MXCrossSigningV2UnitTests: XCTestCase {
         }
     }
     
+    // MARK: - Devices
+    
     func test_crossSignDevice_verifiesUntrustedDevice() async throws {
         let userId = "Alice"
         let deviceId = "ABCD"
diff --git a/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CryptoMachine/MXCryptoProtocolStubs.swift b/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CryptoMachine/MXCryptoProtocolStubs.swift
index 79069835a..570e35d39 100644
--- a/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CryptoMachine/MXCryptoProtocolStubs.swift
+++ b/MatrixSDKTests/Crypto/CryptoMachine/MXCryptoProtocolStubs.swift
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ class CryptoCrossSigningStub: CryptoIdentityStub, MXCryptoCrossSigning {
         return stubbedStatus
     }
     
+    var spyAuthParams: [AnyHashable: Any]?
     func bootstrapCrossSigning(authParams: [AnyHashable : Any]) async throws {
+        self.spyAuthParams = authParams
     }
     
     func exportCrossSigningKeys() -> CrossSigningKeyExport? {