diff --git a/README b/README
index 486656a3bc..037027d431 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -839,40 +839,8 @@ to update it.
 Notice inboxes
 --------------
 
-Before version 0.6.2, the page showing all notices from people the
-user is subscribed to ("so-and-so with friends") was calculated at run
-time. Starting with 0.6.2, we have a new data structure for holding a
-user's "notice inbox". (Note: distinct from the "message inbox", which
-is the "inbox" tab in the UI. The notice inbox appears under the
-"Personal" tab.)
-
-Notices are added to the inbox when they're created. This speeds up
-the query considerably, and also allows us the opportunity, in the
-future, to add different kind of notices to an inbox -- like @-replies
-or subscriptions to search terms or hashtags.
-
-Notice inboxes are enabled by default for new installations. If you
-are upgrading an existing site, this means that your users will see
-empty "Personal" pages. The following steps will help you fix the
-problem.
-
-0. $config['inboxes']['enabled'] can be set to one of three values. If
-   you set it to 'false', the site will work as before. Support for this
-   will probably be dropped in future versions.
-1. Setting the flag to 'transitional' means that you're in transition.
-   In this mode, the code will run the "new query" or the "old query"
-   based on whether the user's inbox has been updated.
-2. After setting the flag to "transitional", you can run the
-   fixup_inboxes.php script to create the inboxes. You may want to set
-   the memory limit high. You can re-run it without ill effect.
-3. When fixup_inboxes is finished, you can set the enabled flag to
-   'true'.
-
-NOTE: As of version 0.8.1 notice inboxes are automatically trimmed back
-      to ~1000 notices every once in a while.
-
-NOTE: we will drop support for non-inboxed sites in the 0.9.x version
-of StatusNet. It's time to switch now!
+Notice inboxes are now required. If you don't have inboxes enabled,
+StatusNet will no longer run.
 
 UTF-8 Database
 --------------
@@ -1308,9 +1276,8 @@ inboxes
 
 For notice inboxes.
 
-enabled: A three-valued flag for whether to use notice inboxes (see
-	 upgrading info above for notes about this change). Can be
-	 'false', 'true', or '"transitional"'.
+enabled: No longer used. If you set this to something other than true,
+	 StatusNet will no longer run.
 
 throttle
 --------
diff --git a/actions/apigroupcreate.php b/actions/apigroupcreate.php
index cdb2afb5be..f66e830738 100644
--- a/actions/apigroupcreate.php
+++ b/actions/apigroupcreate.php
@@ -99,15 +99,6 @@ class ApiGroupCreateAction extends ApiAuthAction
     {
         parent::handle($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes', 'enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(
-                _('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'),
-                400,
-                $this->format
-            );
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] != 'POST') {
              $this->clientError(
                  _('This method requires a POST.'),
diff --git a/actions/editgroup.php b/actions/editgroup.php
index 5dd039f8a3..cf16080356 100644
--- a/actions/editgroup.php
+++ b/actions/editgroup.php
@@ -64,11 +64,6 @@ class EditgroupAction extends GroupDesignAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to create a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/groupbyid.php b/actions/groupbyid.php
index 52cfaddfc3..f65bf511af 100644
--- a/actions/groupbyid.php
+++ b/actions/groupbyid.php
@@ -68,11 +68,6 @@ class GroupbyidAction extends Action
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         $id = $this->arg('id');
 
         if (!$id) {
diff --git a/actions/groupdesignsettings.php b/actions/groupdesignsettings.php
index cd86e3b051..b87b7d156a 100644
--- a/actions/groupdesignsettings.php
+++ b/actions/groupdesignsettings.php
@@ -64,11 +64,6 @@ class GroupDesignSettingsAction extends DesignSettingsAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes', 'enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to edit a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/grouplogo.php b/actions/grouplogo.php
index 63ba769c7a..a9dc7eb1d9 100644
--- a/actions/grouplogo.php
+++ b/actions/grouplogo.php
@@ -66,11 +66,6 @@ class GrouplogoAction extends GroupDesignAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to create a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/grouprss.php b/actions/grouprss.php
index 6a6b55e78f..50e48a67e9 100644
--- a/actions/grouprss.php
+++ b/actions/grouprss.php
@@ -76,11 +76,6 @@ class groupRssAction extends Rss10Action
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         $nickname_arg = $this->arg('nickname');
         $nickname = common_canonical_nickname($nickname_arg);
 
diff --git a/actions/joingroup.php b/actions/joingroup.php
index 0209dd43fd..bf69b2ad1e 100644
--- a/actions/joingroup.php
+++ b/actions/joingroup.php
@@ -56,11 +56,6 @@ class JoingroupAction extends Action
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to join a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/leavegroup.php b/actions/leavegroup.php
index 60b22e147d..08fce15098 100644
--- a/actions/leavegroup.php
+++ b/actions/leavegroup.php
@@ -56,11 +56,6 @@ class LeavegroupAction extends Action
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work.'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to leave a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/newgroup.php b/actions/newgroup.php
index a2cf72528b..80da9861a0 100644
--- a/actions/newgroup.php
+++ b/actions/newgroup.php
@@ -61,11 +61,6 @@ class NewgroupAction extends Action
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         if (!common_logged_in()) {
             $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to create a group.'));
             return false;
diff --git a/actions/showgroup.php b/actions/showgroup.php
index a67765ce58..bfe45ddad7 100644
--- a/actions/showgroup.php
+++ b/actions/showgroup.php
@@ -101,11 +101,6 @@ class ShowgroupAction extends GroupDesignAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_config('inboxes','enabled')) {
-            $this->serverError(_('Inboxes must be enabled for groups to work'));
-            return false;
-        }
-
         $this->page = ($this->arg('page')) ? ($this->arg('page')+0) : 1;
 
         $nickname_arg = $this->arg('nickname');
diff --git a/classes/Notice.php b/classes/Notice.php
index ba2227c0a3..cd3906ca17 100644
--- a/classes/Notice.php
+++ b/classes/Notice.php
@@ -111,10 +111,9 @@ class Notice extends Memcached_DataObject
                          'Fave',
                          'Notice_tag',
                          'Group_inbox',
-                         'Queue_item');
-        if (common_config('inboxes', 'enabled')) {
-            $related[] = 'Notice_inbox';
-        }
+                         'Queue_item',
+                         'Notice_inbox');
+
         foreach ($related as $cls) {
             $inst = new $cls();
             $inst->notice_id = $this->id;
@@ -883,66 +882,61 @@ class Notice extends Memcached_DataObject
 
     function addToInboxes()
     {
-        $enabled = common_config('inboxes', 'enabled');
+        // XXX: loads constants
 
-        if ($enabled === true || $enabled === 'transitional') {
+        $inbox = new Notice_inbox();
 
-            // XXX: loads constants
+        $users = $this->getSubscribedUsers();
 
-            $inbox = new Notice_inbox();
+        // FIXME: kind of ignoring 'transitional'...
+        // we'll probably stop supporting inboxless mode
+        // in 0.9.x
 
-            $users = $this->getSubscribedUsers();
+        $ni = array();
 
-            // FIXME: kind of ignoring 'transitional'...
-            // we'll probably stop supporting inboxless mode
-            // in 0.9.x
+        foreach ($users as $id) {
+            $ni[$id] = NOTICE_INBOX_SOURCE_SUB;
+        }
 
-            $ni = array();
+        $groups = $this->saveGroups();
 
+        foreach ($groups as $group) {
+            $users = $group->getUserMembers();
             foreach ($users as $id) {
-                $ni[$id] = NOTICE_INBOX_SOURCE_SUB;
-            }
-
-            $groups = $this->saveGroups();
-
-            foreach ($groups as $group) {
-                $users = $group->getUserMembers();
-                foreach ($users as $id) {
-                    if (!array_key_exists($id, $ni)) {
-                        $ni[$id] = NOTICE_INBOX_SOURCE_GROUP;
-                    }
+                if (!array_key_exists($id, $ni)) {
+                    $ni[$id] = NOTICE_INBOX_SOURCE_GROUP;
                 }
             }
+        }
 
-            $cnt = 0;
+        $cnt = 0;
 
-            $qryhdr = 'INSERT INTO notice_inbox (user_id, notice_id, source, created) VALUES ';
-            $qry = $qryhdr;
-
-            foreach ($ni as $id => $source) {
-                if ($cnt > 0) {
-                    $qry .= ', ';
-                }
-                $qry .= '('.$id.', '.$this->id.', '.$source.", '".$this->created. "') ";
-                $cnt++;
-                if (rand() % NOTICE_INBOX_SOFT_LIMIT == 0) {
-                    // FIXME: Causes lag in replicated servers
-                    // Notice_inbox::gc($id);
-                }
-                if ($cnt >= MAX_BOXCARS) {
-                    $inbox = new Notice_inbox();
-                    $inbox->query($qry);
-                    $qry = $qryhdr;
-                    $cnt = 0;
-                }
-            }
+        $qryhdr = 'INSERT INTO notice_inbox (user_id, notice_id, source, created) VALUES ';
+        $qry = $qryhdr;
 
+        foreach ($ni as $id => $source) {
             if ($cnt > 0) {
+                $qry .= ', ';
+            }
+            $qry .= '('.$id.', '.$this->id.', '.$source.", '".$this->created. "') ";
+            $cnt++;
+            if (rand() % NOTICE_INBOX_SOFT_LIMIT == 0) {
+                // FIXME: Causes lag in replicated servers
+                // Notice_inbox::gc($id);
+            }
+            if ($cnt >= MAX_BOXCARS) {
                 $inbox = new Notice_inbox();
                 $inbox->query($qry);
+                $qry = $qryhdr;
+                $cnt = 0;
             }
         }
 
+        if ($cnt > 0) {
+            $inbox = new Notice_inbox();
+            $inbox->query($qry);
+        }
+
         return;
     }
 
@@ -977,11 +971,6 @@ class Notice extends Memcached_DataObject
     {
         $groups = array();
 
-        $enabled = common_config('inboxes', 'enabled');
-        if ($enabled !== true && $enabled !== 'transitional') {
-            return $groups;
-        }
-
         /* extract all !group */
         $count = preg_match_all('/(?:^|\s)!([A-Za-z0-9]{1,64})/',
                                 strtolower($this->content),
diff --git a/classes/User.php b/classes/User.php
index 48df0cdd77..0a70c98014 100644
--- a/classes/User.php
+++ b/classes/User.php
@@ -227,11 +227,9 @@ class User extends Memcached_DataObject
             }
         }
 
-        $inboxes = common_config('inboxes', 'enabled');
+        // This flag is ignored but still set to 1
 
-        if ($inboxes === true || $inboxes == 'transitional') {
-            $user->inboxed = 1;
-        }
+        $user->inboxed = 1;
 
         $user->created = common_sql_now();
         $user->uri = common_user_uri($user);
@@ -433,55 +431,16 @@ class User extends Memcached_DataObject
 
     function noticesWithFriends($offset=0, $limit=NOTICES_PER_PAGE, $since_id=0, $before_id=0, $since=null)
     {
-        $enabled = common_config('inboxes', 'enabled');
+        $ids = Notice_inbox::stream($this->id, $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id, $since, false);
 
-        // Complicated code, depending on whether we support inboxes yet
-        // XXX: make this go away when inboxes become mandatory
-
-        if ($enabled === false ||
-            ($enabled == 'transitional' && $this->inboxed == 0)) {
-            $qry =
-              'SELECT notice.* ' .
-              'FROM notice JOIN subscription ON notice.profile_id = subscription.subscribed ' .
-              'WHERE subscription.subscriber = %d ' .
-              'AND notice.is_local != ' . Notice::GATEWAY;
-            return Notice::getStream(sprintf($qry, $this->id),
-                                     'user:notices_with_friends:' . $this->id,
-                                     $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id,
-                                     $order, $since);
-        } else if ($enabled === true ||
-                   ($enabled == 'transitional' && $this->inboxed == 1)) {
-
-            $ids = Notice_inbox::stream($this->id, $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id, $since, false);
-
-            return Notice::getStreamByIds($ids);
-        }
+        return Notice::getStreamByIds($ids);
     }
 
     function noticeInbox($offset=0, $limit=NOTICES_PER_PAGE, $since_id=0, $before_id=0, $since=null)
     {
-        $enabled = common_config('inboxes', 'enabled');
+        $ids = Notice_inbox::stream($this->id, $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id, $since, true);
 
-        // Complicated code, depending on whether we support inboxes yet
-        // XXX: make this go away when inboxes become mandatory
-
-        if ($enabled === false ||
-            ($enabled == 'transitional' && $this->inboxed == 0)) {
-            $qry =
-              'SELECT notice.* ' .
-              'FROM notice JOIN subscription ON notice.profile_id = subscription.subscribed ' .
-              'WHERE subscription.subscriber = %d ';
-            return Notice::getStream(sprintf($qry, $this->id),
-                                     'user:notices_with_friends:' . $this->id,
-                                     $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id,
-                                     $order, $since);
-        } else if ($enabled === true ||
-                   ($enabled == 'transitional' && $this->inboxed == 1)) {
-
-            $ids = Notice_inbox::stream($this->id, $offset, $limit, $since_id, $before_id, $since, true);
-
-            return Notice::getStreamByIds($ids);
-        }
+        return Notice::getStreamByIds($ids);
     }
 
     function blowFavesCache()
@@ -752,12 +711,9 @@ class User extends Memcached_DataObject
                          'Remember_me',
                          'Foreign_link',
                          'Invitation',
+                         'Notice_inbox',
                          );
 
-        if (common_config('inboxes', 'enabled')) {
-            $related[] = 'Notice_inbox';
-        }
-
         foreach ($related as $cls) {
             $inst = new $cls();
             $inst->user_id = $this->id;
diff --git a/lib/default.php b/lib/default.php
index 329b041e9a..9f3d4b1f9d 100644
--- a/lib/default.php
+++ b/lib/default.php
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ $default =
  		'ping' =>
         array('notify' => array()),
         'inboxes' =>
-        array('enabled' => true), # on by default for new sites
+        array('enabled' => true), # ignored after 0.9.x
         'newuser' =>
         array('default' => null,
               'welcome' => null),