diff --git a/group_vars/matrix_servers b/group_vars/matrix_servers
index 843dfb20d..11e15def1 100755
--- a/group_vars/matrix_servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix_servers
@@ -774,8 +774,6 @@ matrix_etherpad_systemd_required_services_list: |
     (['matrix-postgres.service'] if matrix_postgres_enabled else [])
   }}
 
-# Postgres is the default, except if not using `matrix_postgres` (internal postgres)
-matrix_etherpad_database_engine: "{{ 'postgres' if matrix_postgres_enabled else 'sqlite' }}"
 matrix_etherpad_database_password: "{{ matrix_synapse_macaroon_secret_key | password_hash('sha512', 'etherpad.db') | to_uuid }}"
 
 ######################################################################
diff --git a/roles/matrix-etherpad/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-etherpad/defaults/main.yml
index e7ba6002a..7c63fe036 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-etherpad/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-etherpad/defaults/main.yml
@@ -36,15 +36,8 @@ matrix_etherpad_base_url: "https://{{ matrix_server_fqn_dimension }}{{ matrix_et
 
 # Database-related configuration fields.
 #
-# Etherpad recommends using a dedicated database, and supports Sqlite only for development
-#
-# To use Postgres:
-# - change the engine (`matrix_etherpad_database_engine: 'postgres'`)
-# - adjust your database credentials via the `matrix_etherpad_postgres_*` variables
-matrix_etherpad_database_engine: 'sqlite'
-
-matrix_etherpad_sqlite_database_path_local: "{{ matrix_etherpad_base_path }}/etherpad.db"
-matrix_etherpad_sqlite_database_path_in_container: "/data/etherpad.db"
+# Etherpad requires a dedicated database
+matrix_etherpad_database_engine: 'postgres'
 
 matrix_etherpad_database_username: 'matrix_etherpad'
 matrix_etherpad_database_password: 'some-password'
diff --git a/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/settings.json.j2 b/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/settings.json.j2
index 6435cf6db..b3b87f43e 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/settings.json.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/settings.json.j2
@@ -8,15 +8,11 @@
   "showSettingsInAdminPage": true,
   "dbType": {{ matrix_etherpad_database_engine|to_json }},
   "dbSettings": {
-    {% if matrix_etherpad_database_engine == 'sqlite' %}
-      "filename": {{ matrix_etherpad_sqlite_database_path_in_container|to_json }}
-    {% elif matrix_etherpad_database_engine == 'postgres' %}
-      "database": {{ matrix_etherpad_database_name|to_json }},
-      "host":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_hostname|to_json }},
-      "password": {{ matrix_etherpad_database_password|to_json }},
-      "port":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_port|to_json }},
-      "user":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_username|to_json }}
-    {% endif %}
+    "database": {{ matrix_etherpad_database_name|to_json }},
+    "host":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_hostname|to_json }},
+    "password": {{ matrix_etherpad_database_password|to_json }},
+    "port":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_port|to_json }},
+    "user":     {{ matrix_etherpad_database_username|to_json }}
   },
   "defaultPadText" : {{ matrix_etherpad_default_pad_text|to_json }},
   "suppressErrorsInPadText": false,
diff --git a/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/systemd/matrix-etherpad.service.j2 b/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/systemd/matrix-etherpad.service.j2
index 6f662aa79..b8a266640 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/systemd/matrix-etherpad.service.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-etherpad/templates/systemd/matrix-etherpad.service.j2
@@ -16,11 +16,6 @@ Environment="HOME={{ matrix_systemd_unit_home_path }}"
 ExecStartPre=-{{ matrix_host_command_docker }} kill matrix-etherpad
 ExecStartPre=-{{ matrix_host_command_docker }} rm matrix-etherpad
 
-# Fixup database ownership if it got changed somehow (during a server migration, etc.)
-{% if matrix_etherpad_database_engine == 'sqlite' %}
-ExecStartPre=-{{ matrix_host_command_chown }} {{ matrix_etherpad_user_uid }} {{ matrix_etherpad_sqlite_database_path_local }}
-{% endif %}
-
 ExecStart={{ matrix_host_command_docker }} run --rm --name matrix-etherpad \
 			--log-driver=none \
 			--user={{ matrix_etherpad_user_uid }}:{{ matrix_etherpad_user_gid }} \