diff --git a/src/custom.js b/src/custom.js
index 49bd151c5..0ab2efc7d 100644
--- a/src/custom.js
+++ b/src/custom.js
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ const DEFAULT_SPEC = {
         blacklist: [],
         whitelist: null // null imples, not set. this is an object and not an array
     },
-    backups: {
-        configurable: true
-    },
     domains: {
         dynamicDns: true,
         changeDashboardDomain: true
diff --git a/src/routes/settings.js b/src/routes/settings.js
index 0d3f2c9bc..6d0b529f6 100644
--- a/src/routes/settings.js
+++ b/src/routes/settings.js
@@ -127,11 +127,6 @@ function getBackupConfig(req, res, next) {
     settings.getBackupConfig(function (error, backupConfig) {
         if (error) return next(BoxError.toHttpError(error));
 
-        // always send provider as it is used by the UI to figure if backups are disabled ('noop' backend)
-        if (!custom.spec().backups.configurable) {
-            return next(new HttpSuccess(200, { provider: backupConfig.provider }));
-        }
-
         next(new HttpSuccess(200, backups.removePrivateFields(backupConfig)));
     });
 }
@@ -139,8 +134,6 @@ function getBackupConfig(req, res, next) {
 function setBackupConfig(req, res, next) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof req.body, 'object');
 
-    if (!custom.spec().backups.configurable) return next(new HttpError(405, 'feature disabled by admin'));
-
     if (typeof req.body.provider !== 'string') return next(new HttpError(400, 'provider is required'));
     if (typeof req.body.retentionSecs !== 'number') return next(new HttpError(400, 'retentionSecs is required'));
     if (typeof req.body.intervalSecs !== 'number') return next(new HttpError(400, 'intervalSecs is required'));