diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bb57ddd..cd74bd7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ Please take a note of the format: `@all@@example.ninja`. You need to specify not
 - **EJABBERD_MOD_MUC_ADMIN**: Activate the mod_muc_admin module. Defaults to `false`.
 - **EJABBERD_MUC_CREATE_ADMIN_ONLY**: Only allow admins to create rooms. Defaults to `false`.
 - **EJABBERD_MOD_ADMIN_EXTRA**: Activate the mod_admin_extra module. Defaults to `true`.
-- **EJABBERD_REGISTER_ADMIN_ONLY**: Only allow admins to register users. Defaults to `false`.
+- **EJABBERD_REGISTER_ADMIN_ONLY**: Only allow admins to register users. Defaults to `true`.
 - **EJABBERD_REGISTER_TRUSTED_NETWORK_ONLY**: Only allow user registration from the trusted_network access rule. Defaults to `true`.
 - **EJABBERD_MOD_VERSION**: Activate the mod_version module. Defaults to `true`.
 - **EJABBERD_SOURCE_MODULES**: List of modules, which will be installed from sources localized in ${EJABBERD_HOME}/module_source.
diff --git a/conf/ejabberd.yml.tpl b/conf/ejabberd.yml.tpl
index 0527258..9aaa995 100644
--- a/conf/ejabberd.yml.tpl
+++ b/conf/ejabberd.yml.tpl
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ access:
     local: allow
   ## In-band registration allows registration of any possible username.
   register:
-    {%- if env['EJABBERD_REGISTER_ADMIN_ONLY'] == "true" %}
+    {%- if env.get('EJABBERD_REGISTER_ADMIN_ONLY', "true") == "true" %}
     all: deny
     admin: allow
     {% else %}