diff --git a/conf/config.json.example b/conf/config.json.example
index 7b30ba4..45e0930 100644
--- a/conf/config.json.example
+++ b/conf/config.json.example
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
         "loglevel": "info",
         "useCDN": false,
         "allowGravatar": false,
-        "allowFreeURL": false,
+        "allowFreeURL": __ALLOW_FREE_URL__,
         "allowAnonymous": __ALLOW_ANONYMOUS__, 
         "allowAnonymousEdits": true,
         "defaultPermission": "locked",
diff --git a/config_panel.toml b/config_panel.toml
index e784143..7814eff 100644
--- a/config_panel.toml
+++ b/config_panel.toml
@@ -22,3 +22,13 @@ name = "HedgeDoc configuration"
         help = "Set to allow registration of new accounts using an email address. If set to false, you can still create accounts using the command line."
         bind = "allow_email_registration:__FINALPATH__/config.json"
 
+        [main.config.allow_free_url]
+        ask = "Allow email registration"
+        type = "boolean"
+        yes = "true"
+        no = "false"
+        help = "Set to allow new note creation by accessing a nonexistent note URL. This is the behavior familiar from Etherpad."
+        bind = "allow_free_url:__FINALPATH__/config.json"
+
+
+
diff --git a/scripts/install b/scripts/install
index ed5aea4..d5d0569 100644
--- a/scripts/install
+++ b/scripts/install
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ app=$YNH_APP_INSTANCE_NAME
 
 allow_anonymous=false
 allow_email_registration=false
+allow_free_url=false
 
 #=================================================
 # CHECK IF THE APP CAN BE INSTALLED WITH THESE ARGS
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=domain --value=$domain
 ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=path --value=$path_url
 ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=allow_anonymous --value=$allow_anonymous
 ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=allow_email_registration --value=$allow_email_registration
+ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=allow_free_url --value=$allow_free_url
 
 #=================================================
 # STANDARD MODIFICATIONS
diff --git a/scripts/upgrade b/scripts/upgrade
index d0f97ad..541592c 100644
--- a/scripts/upgrade
+++ b/scripts/upgrade
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ db_pwd=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=psqlpwd)
 
 allow_anonymous=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=allow_anonymous)
 allow_email_registration=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=allow_email_registration)
+allow_free_url=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=allow_free_url)
 
 #=================================================
 # CHECK VERSION
@@ -48,6 +49,11 @@ if [ -z "$allow_email_registration" ]; then
 	ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=allow_email_registration --value=$allow_email_registration
 fi
 
+if [ -z "$allow_free_url" ]; then
+	allow_free_url="false"
+	ynh_app_setting_set --app=$app --key=allow_free_url --value=$allow_free_url
+fi
+
 # Cleaning legacy permissions
 if ynh_legacy_permissions_exists; then
 	ynh_legacy_permissions_delete_all