diff --git a/mod/friendica.php b/mod/friendica.php
index 2629a0a19..0e647eb5e 100644
--- a/mod/friendica.php
+++ b/mod/friendica.php
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ function friendica_init(App $a)
 			'locked_features'  => $locked_features,
 			'explicit_content' => (int)Config::get('system', 'explicit_content', false),
 			'language'         => Config::get('system','language'),
-			'register_policy ' => $register_policy[intval(Config::get('config', 'register_policy'))],
+			'register_policy'  => $register_policy[intval(Config::get('config', 'register_policy'))],
 			'admin'            => $admin,
 			'site_name'        => Config::get('config', 'sitename'),
 			'platform'         => FRIENDICA_PLATFORM,
diff --git a/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php b/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
index fb8b48d7c..9c22a2163 100644
--- a/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
+++ b/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
@@ -1375,7 +1375,12 @@ class PortableContact
 					}
 
 					$info = $data['info'];
-					$register_policy = constant($data['register_policy']);
+					if (in_array($data['register_policy'], ['REGISTER_CLOSED', 'REGISTER_APPROVE', 'REGISTER_OPEN'])) {
+						$register_policy = constant($data['register_policy']);
+					} else {
+						Logger::log("Register policy '{$data['register_policy']}' from $server_url is invalid.");
+						$register_policy = REGISTER_CLOSED; // set a default value
+					}
 					$platform = $data['platform'];
 				}
 			}