diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 018fdbcd..89bd5cf2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   ([#370](https://github.com/deltachat/chatmail/pull/370))
 
 - migrate and remove sqlite database in favor of password/lastlogin tracking 
-  in a user's maildir.  this removes the need for "passdb" setting in ini file
+  in a user's maildir.  This removes the need for "passdb_path" setting in ini file
   which was introduced through #351 below. 
   ([#379](https://github.com/deltachat/chatmail/pull/379))
 
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
index 1da2e71c..9165750e 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class Config:
         self.passthrough_senders = params["passthrough_senders"].split()
         self.passthrough_recipients = params["passthrough_recipients"].split()
         self.mailboxes_dir = Path(params["mailboxes_dir"].strip())
-        self.passdb_path = Path(params["passdb_path"].strip())
         self.filtermail_smtp_port = int(params["filtermail_smtp_port"])
         self.postfix_reinject_port = int(params["postfix_reinject_port"])
         self.iroh_relay = params.get("iroh_relay")
@@ -37,6 +36,9 @@ class Config:
         self.privacy_pdo = params.get("privacy_pdo")
         self.privacy_supervisor = params.get("privacy_supervisor")
 
+        # old unused option (except for first migration from sqlite to maildir store)
+        self.passdb_path = Path(params.get("passdb_path", "/home/vmail/passdb.sqlite"))
+
     def _getbytefile(self):
         return open(self._inipath, "rb")
 
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/ini/chatmail.ini.f b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/ini/chatmail.ini.f
index c78f8059..fea7b9cd 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/ini/chatmail.ini.f
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/ini/chatmail.ini.f
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ passthrough_recipients = xstore@testrun.org groupsbot@hispanilandia.net
 # Directory where user mailboxes are stored
 mailboxes_dir = /home/vmail/mail/{mail_domain}
 
-# user address sqlite database path
-passdb_path = /home/vmail/passdb.sqlite
-
 # where the filtermail SMTP service listens
 filtermail_smtp_port = 10080
 
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/plugin.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/plugin.py
index c704686b..ee0baab2 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/plugin.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/plugin.py
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ def make_config(tmp_path):
     def make_conf(mail_domain):
         basedir = tmp_path.joinpath(f"vmail/{mail_domain}")
         basedir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        passdb = tmp_path.joinpath("vmail/passdb.sqlite")
-        overrides = dict(mailboxes_dir=str(basedir), passdb_path=str(passdb))
+        overrides = dict(mailboxes_dir=str(basedir))
         write_initial_config(inipath, mail_domain, overrides=overrides)
         return read_config(inipath)
 
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_config.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_config.py
index 696f1e0a..fa09eda7 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_config.py
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ def test_config_userstate_paths(make_config, tmp_path):
     mailboxes_dir = config.mailboxes_dir
     passdb_path = config.passdb_path
     assert mailboxes_dir.name == "something.testrun.org"
-    assert passdb_path.name == "passdb.sqlite"
-    assert passdb_path.is_relative_to(tmp_path)
+    assert str(passdb_path) == "/home/vmail/passdb.sqlite"
     assert config.mail_domain == "something.testrun.org"
     path = config.get_user("user1@something.testrun.org").maildir
     assert not path.exists()