diff --git a/emails.py b/emails.py
index 01b2487..1f47ce8 100755
--- a/emails.py
+++ b/emails.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import datetime
 import email
 import email.policy
 import hashlib
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import pygit2
@@ -23,12 +22,6 @@ import sys
 # SETTINGS
 ###############################################################################
 
-# Default options for the configuration file
-configuration = {
-    'enabled': True,
-    'subscribers': []
-}
-
 # The "domain" part in address@domain that we're expecting to see.
 # All emails addressed to another domain will be ignored.
 SERVER_DOMAIN = 'domain.local'
@@ -117,13 +110,14 @@ except:
     exit()
 
 try:
-    configuration = configuration | json.loads(head_tree['configuration'].data.decode('UTF-8'))
+    subscribers = []
+    for addr in head_tree['subscribers'].data.decode('UTF-8').splitlines():
+        addr = addr.strip()
+        if len(addr) > 0:
+            subscribers.append(addr)
 except:
-    logging.info('Could not load configuration file for repository {}. The default configuration will be used instead.'.format(repository_path))
-
-if configuration['enabled'] == False:
-    logging.info('Ignoring incoming email for repository {} because emails are disabled.'.format(repository_path))
-    exit()
+    subscribers = []
+    logging.info('Could not load subscribers file: {}'.format(repository_path))
 
 logging.debug('Accepting email from {} to {} with subject {}'.format(email_from, email_to, email_subject))
 
@@ -184,7 +178,7 @@ repo.create_commit(
 ###############################################################################
 
 # Remove duplicates, if any
-participants = list(set(configuration['subscribers']))
+participants = list(set(subscribers))
 
 # Find all the participants in the thread, ie. everyone that has sent an email
 thread_tree = repo.get(thread_tree_oid)