diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ea5909dab..649e18d02 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
+# J release (3.9.0)
+
+## Goals
+
+* simplify server configuration by dropping support for unused features
+  * drop `websocketPath` `websocketURL` and `useExternalWebsockets`
+  * use `externalWebsocketURL` to replace all of these
+
+## Update notes
+
+## Features
+
+## Bug fixes
+
 # IsolobodonPortoricensis release (3.8.0)
 
 We had some trouble finding an extinct animal whose name started with "I", and we had to resort to using a scientific name.
diff --git a/config/config.example.js b/config/config.example.js
index 2b5bc687d..c76fe9d37 100644
--- a/config/config.example.js
+++ b/config/config.example.js
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ module.exports = {
      *  Otherwise, leave this commented and your clients will use the default
      *  websocket (wss://yourdomain.com/cryptpad_websocket)
      */
-    //externalWebsocketPath: 'wss://api.yourdomain.com/cryptpad_websocket
+    //externalWebsocketURL: 'wss://api.yourdomain.com/cryptpad_websocket
 
     /*  CryptPad can be configured to send customized HTTP Headers
      *  These settings may vary widely depending on your needs
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 8a9a98a41..65bf36a87 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ app.get('/api/config', function(req, res){
             },
             removeDonateButton: (config.removeDonateButton === true),
             allowSubscriptions: (config.allowSubscriptions === true),
-            websocketPath: config.externalWebsocketPath,
+            websocketPath: config.externalWebsocketURL,
             httpUnsafeOrigin: config.httpUnsafeOrigin.replace(/^\s*/, ''),
             adminEmail: config.adminEmail,
             adminKeys: admins,
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ var nt = nThen(function (w) {
         log = config.log = _log;
     }));
 }).nThen(function (w) {
-    if (config.externalWebsocketPath) {
+    if (config.externalWebsocketURL) {
         // if you plan to use an external websocket server
         // then you don't need to load any API services other than the logger.
         // Just abort.