diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 4aa98de9..338a3de7 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ config :cannery, CanneryWeb.Endpoint,
   secret_key_base: "KH59P0iZixX5gP/u+zkxxG8vAAj6vgt0YqnwEB5JP5K+E567SsqkCz69uWShjE7I",
   render_errors: [view: CanneryWeb.ErrorView, accepts: ~w(html json), layout: false],
   pubsub_server: Cannery.PubSub,
-  live_view: [signing_salt: "zOLgd3lr"]
+  live_view: [signing_salt: "zOLgd3lr"],
+  registration: System.get_env("REGISTRATION") || "invite"
 
 # Configures Elixir's Logger
 config :logger, :console,
diff --git a/config/prod.exs b/config/prod.exs
index 50300531..106c9530 100644
--- a/config/prod.exs
+++ b/config/prod.exs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ config :cannery, CanneryWeb.Endpoint,
   url: [host: "localhost"],
   http: [port: 4000],
   cache_static_manifest: "priv/static/cache_manifest.json"
-  
+
 config :cannery, Cannery.Repo,
   url: "ecto://postgres:postgres@localhost/cannery",
   pool_size: 10
diff --git a/config/releases.exs b/config/releases.exs
index 03edfc07..d2d8e7d6 100644
--- a/config/releases.exs
+++ b/config/releases.exs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import Config
 
 database_url =
   System.get_env("DATABASE_URL") ||
-  "ecto://postgres:postgres@cannery-db/cannery"
+    "ecto://postgres:postgres@cannery-db/cannery"
 
 config :cannery, Cannery.Repo,
   # ssl: true,
@@ -26,4 +26,5 @@ config :cannery, CanneryWeb.Endpoint,
     transport_options: [socket_opts: [:inet6]]
   ],
   secret_key_base: secret_key_base,
-  server: true
\ No newline at end of file
+  server: true,
+  registration: System.get_env("REGISTRATION") || "invite"
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 0f34df7f..dd4110f9 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ services:
       DATABASE_URL: "ecto://postgres:postgres@cannery-db/cannery"
       # generate a random base64 string 64 characters long, preferably not from a website
       SECRET_KEY_BASE: "change-me-to-something-random-this-is-really-important-change-it"
+      # uncomment enable sign ups, watch for spam!
+      # REGISTRATION: "public"
     ports:
       # do not expose this publically!
       # always host from behind a reverse proxy with a properly configured certificate