diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5d89651..d2d06c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ Contains policy and access related configuration.
 Configures NIP 29 support.
 
 - `enabled` - whether NIP 29 is enabled.
-- `auto_join` - whether relay members can join groups without approval. Defaults to `false`.
 
 ### `[management]`
 
@@ -97,7 +96,6 @@ strip_signatures = false
 
 [groups]
 enabled = true
-auto_join = false
 
 [management]
 enabled = true
diff --git a/zooid/api_test.go b/zooid/api_test.go
index b54b3d7..07ab751 100644
--- a/zooid/api_test.go
+++ b/zooid/api_test.go
@@ -422,8 +422,7 @@ func TestAPIHandler_PatchRelay(t *testing.T) {
 			"strip_signatures": false,
 		},
 		"groups": map[string]interface{}{
-			"enabled":   true,
-			"auto_join": false,
+			"enabled": true,
 		},
 	}
 	body, _ := json.Marshal(initialConfig)
@@ -701,8 +700,7 @@ func TestAPIHandler_ConfigValidation(t *testing.T) {
 				"strip_signatures": false,
 			},
 			"groups": map[string]interface{}{
-				"enabled":   true,
-				"auto_join": true,
+				"enabled": true,
 			},
 			"push": map[string]interface{}{
 				"enabled": true,
diff --git a/zooid/config.go b/zooid/config.go
index 99f366b..c020a83 100644
--- a/zooid/config.go
+++ b/zooid/config.go
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	} `toml:"policy" json:"policy"`
 
 	Groups struct {
-		Enabled  bool `toml:"enabled" json:"enabled"`
-		AutoJoin bool `toml:"auto_join" json:"auto_join"`
+		Enabled bool `toml:"enabled" json:"enabled"`
 	} `toml:"groups" json:"groups"`
 
 	Push struct {
diff --git a/zooid/instance.go b/zooid/instance.go
index ae9506e..f84c06e 100644
--- a/zooid/instance.go
+++ b/zooid/instance.go
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func (instance *Instance) OnEvent(ctx context.Context, event nostr.Event) (rejec
 func (instance *Instance) OnEventSaved(ctx context.Context, event nostr.Event) {
 	h := GetGroupIDFromEvent(event)
 
-	if event.Kind == nostr.KindSimpleGroupJoinRequest && instance.Config.Groups.AutoJoin {
+	if event.Kind == nostr.KindSimpleGroupJoinRequest {
 		instance.Groups.AddMember(h, event.PubKey)
 		instance.Groups.UpdateMembersList(h)
 	}