diff --git a/commands/core/join.js b/commands/core/join.js
index 0e56575..ca9d042 100644
--- a/commands/core/join.js
+++ b/commands/core/join.js
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ import {
 import {
   canJoinChannel,
   socketInChannel,
+  getChannelSettings,
 } from '../utility/_Channels.js';
 import {
   Errors,
+  SystemMOTDs,
 } from '../utility/_Constants.js';
 import {
   upgradeLegacyJoin,
@@ -93,6 +95,17 @@ export async function run({
   // get trip and level
   const { trip, level } = getUserPerms(pass, core.saltKey, core.appConfig.data, channel);
 
+  const channelSettings = getChannelSettings(core.appConfig.data, channel);
+
+  if (level < channelSettings.lockLevel) {
+    return server.reply({
+      cmd: 'warn',
+      text: 'You may not join that channel.',
+      // id: Errors.Join., // @todo Add numeric error code as `id`
+      channel: false, // @todo Multichannel, false for global event
+    }, socket);
+  }
+
   // store the user values
   const userInfo = {
     nick,
@@ -168,6 +181,17 @@ export async function run({
     channel, // @todo Multichannel (?)
   }, socket);
 
+  var motd = channelSettings.motd;
+  if (motd === '') {
+    motd = SystemMOTDs[Math.floor(Math.random() * SystemMOTDs.length)];
+  }
+
+  server.reply({
+    cmd: 'info',
+    text: motd,
+    channel,
+  }, socket);
+
   // update client with new session info
   server.reply({
     cmd: 'session',
diff --git a/commands/utility/_Channels.js b/commands/utility/_Channels.js
index d85919c..6aac2f2 100644
--- a/commands/utility/_Channels.js
+++ b/commands/utility/_Channels.js
@@ -104,24 +104,25 @@ export function getChannelSettings(config, channel) {
   const channelHash = getChannelHash(channel);
 
   if (typeof config.permissions[channelHash] === 'undefined') {
-    const configPath = `../../channels/${channelHash[0]}/${channelHash}.json`;
+    const configPath = `./channels/${channelHash[0]}/${channelHash}.json`;
 
     if (!existsSync(configPath)) {
-      return DefaultChannelSettings;
+      config.permissions[channelHash] = {
+        ...DefaultChannelSettings,
+      };
+    } else {
+      try {
+        config.permissions[channelHash] = JSON.parse(readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.log(`Corrupted channel config: ${configPath}`);
+
+        config.permissions[channelHash] = {
+          ...DefaultChannelSettings,
+        };
+      }
     }
 
-    let configData;
-    try {
-      configData = JSON.parse(readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.log(`Corrupted channel config: ${configPath}`);
-
-      return DefaultChannelSettings;
-    }
-
-    // Check last access date here, if too old; delete file and return DefaultChannelSettings
-
-    config.permissions[channelHash] = configData;
+    // @todo Check last access date here, if too old; delete file and use DefaultChannelSettings
   }
 
   config.permissions[channelHash].lastAccessed = new Date();
diff --git a/commands/utility/_Constants.js b/commands/utility/_Constants.js
index c4c935d..d1c435c 100644
--- a/commands/utility/_Constants.js
+++ b/commands/utility/_Constants.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   * Internal version, used mainly for debugging
   * @typedef {object} CodebaseVersion
   */
-export const CodebaseVersion = '2.2.21b';
+export const CodebaseVersion = '2.2.23b';
 
 /* Base error ranges */
 const GlobalErrors = 10;
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ export const DefaultChannelSettings = {
   * @typedef {object} SystemMOTDs
   */
 export const SystemMOTDs = [
-  'Protip: Using any hex color code, you can change your name color- for example: /color #FFFFFF`',
-  'Protip: You can easily change your name with a command: /nick bob`',
+  'Protip: Using any hex color code, you can change your name color- for example: /color #FFFFFF',
+  'Protip: You can easily change your name with a command: /nick bob',
 ];
 
 /**
diff --git a/scripts/config.js b/scripts/config.js
index a5ad4d1..d78370e 100644
--- a/scripts/config.js
+++ b/scripts/config.js
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ import {
 } from 'lowdb';
 import crypto from 'crypto';
 import enquirerPkg from 'enquirer';
+import {
+  getChannelHash,
+} from '../commands/utility/_Channels.js';
+import {
+  DefaultChannelSettings,
+} from '../commands/utility/_Constants.js';
 
 const {
   Select,
@@ -150,8 +156,6 @@ const setupChannels = async () => {
 
   if (mode === standardMode) {
     config.data.publicChannels = defaultChannels;
-
-    await config.write();
   } else {
     const channels = [];
     let newChannel = '';
@@ -168,9 +172,31 @@ const setupChannels = async () => {
     }
 
     config.data.publicChannels = channels;
-
-    await config.write();
   }
+
+  const now = new Date();
+  const expirationDate = new Date();
+  expirationDate.setDate(expirationDate.getDate() + 1825);
+  const channelSettings = {
+    ...DefaultChannelSettings,
+    ...{
+      owned: true,
+      ownerTrip: 'Admin',
+      lastAccessed: now,
+      claimExpires: expirationDate,
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (let i = 0, j = config.data.publicChannels.length; i < j; i += 1) {
+    const channelHash = getChannelHash(config.data.publicChannels[i]);
+    const configPath = `./channels/${channelHash[0]}/${channelHash}.json`;
+
+    console.log(`Storing ${config.data.publicChannels[i]} -> ${configPath}`);
+
+    writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(channelSettings));
+  }
+
+  await config.write();
 };
 
 // check if pulic channels have been initialized