diff --git a/group_vars/matrix_servers b/group_vars/matrix_servers
index cf8d4830b..876a00fa4 100755
--- a/group_vars/matrix_servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix_servers
@@ -438,6 +438,8 @@ matrix_riot_web_enable_presence_by_hs_url: |
     else {matrix_riot_web_default_hs_url: false}
   }}
 
+matrix_riot_web_welcome_user_id: ~
+
 ######################################################################
 #
 # /matrix-riot-web
diff --git a/roles/matrix-riot-web/templates/config.json.j2 b/roles/matrix-riot-web/templates/config.json.j2
index 92753a15f..e8c183b4a 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-riot-web/templates/config.json.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-riot-web/templates/config.json.j2
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 	"roomDirectory": {
 		"servers": {{ matrix_riot_web_roomdir_servers|to_json }}
 	},
-	"welcomeUserId": {{ matrix_riot_web_welcome_user_id|string|to_json }},
+	"welcomeUserId": {{ matrix_riot_web_welcome_user_id|to_json }},
 	{% if matrix_riot_web_enable_presence_by_hs_url is not none %}
 		"enable_presence_by_hs_url": {{ matrix_riot_web_enable_presence_by_hs_url|to_json }},
 	{% endif %}