diff --git a/app/jobs/scheduled/version_check.rb b/app/jobs/scheduled/version_check.rb
index d28d943d934..37eebf01f9e 100644
--- a/app/jobs/scheduled/version_check.rb
+++ b/app/jobs/scheduled/version_check.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ module Jobs
           DiscourseUpdates.updated_at = Time.zone.now
           DiscourseUpdates.missing_versions = json['versions']
 
-          if  GlobalSetting.new_version_emails &&
-              SiteSetting.new_version_emails &&
+          if SiteSetting.new_version_emails &&
               json['missingVersionsCount'] > (0) &&
               prev_missing_versions_count < (json['missingVersionsCount'].to_i)
 
diff --git a/config/discourse_defaults.conf b/config/discourse_defaults.conf
index 17146b1cac5..7af0d3c2a3c 100644
--- a/config/discourse_defaults.conf
+++ b/config/discourse_defaults.conf
@@ -157,11 +157,6 @@ sidekiq_workers = 5
 # adjust stylesheets to rtl (requires "rtlit" gem)
 rtl_css = false
 
-# notify admin when a new version of discourse is released
-# this is global so it is easier to set in multisites
-# TODO allow for global overrides
-new_version_emails = true
-
 # connection reaping helps keep connection counts down, postgres
 # will not work properly with huge numbers of open connections
 # reap connections from pool that are older than 30 seconds