diff --git a/dht-node/src/config/index.ts b/dht-node/src/config/index.ts
index 3a44d845e..9850e65c6 100644
--- a/dht-node/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/dht-node/src/config/index.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ const eventProtocol = {
 }
 
 const federation = {
-  FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC: process.env.FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC || null,
+  FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC: process.env.FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC || 'GRADIDO_HUB',
   FEDERATION_DHT_SEED: process.env.FEDERATION_DHT_SEED || null,
   FEDERATION_COMMUNITY_URL: process.env.FEDERATION_COMMUNITY_URL || null,
 }
diff --git a/dht-node/src/index.ts b/dht-node/src/index.ts
index 0c90e13f9..cf0344d4c 100644
--- a/dht-node/src/index.ts
+++ b/dht-node/src/index.ts
@@ -9,13 +9,6 @@ import CONFIG from './config'
 async function main() {
   const { app } = await createServer()
 
-  // die when there is no FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC defined
-  if (!CONFIG.FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'You have to configure a `FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC` in the config to run this service.',
-    )
-  }
-
   // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
   console.log(
     `starting Federation on ${CONFIG.FEDERATION_DHT_TOPIC} ${