diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
index 5fd105281..ebfaf1b70 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ class ApiV1Controller extends Controller
         $res = [
         	'approval_required' => false,
         	'contact_account' => null,
-            'description' => 'Pixelfed - Photo sharing for everyone',
+            'description' => config('instance.description'),
             'email' => config('instance.email'),
             'invites_enabled' => false,
             'rules' => [],
diff --git a/config/instance.php b/config/instance.php
index 1fa95229f..30bcc4c4c 100644
--- a/config/instance.php
+++ b/config/instance.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 return [
 
-	'description' => env('INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION', null),
+	'description' => env('INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION', 'Pixelfed - Photo sharing for everyone'),
 
 	'contact' => [
 		'enabled' => env('INSTANCE_CONTACT_FORM', false),
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ return [
 			'is_public' => env('INSTANCE_PUBLIC_HASHTAGS', false)
 		],
 	],
-	
+
 	'email' => env('INSTANCE_CONTACT_EMAIL'),
 
 	'timeline' => [
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ return [
 			'org' => env('COVID_LABEL_ORG', 'visit the WHO website')
 		]
 	],
-];
\ No newline at end of file
+];