diff --git a/group_vars/matrix_servers b/group_vars/matrix_servers
index 11661df0951..9b938f97951 100755
--- a/group_vars/matrix_servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix_servers
@@ -3901,8 +3901,6 @@ matrix_client_element_enable_presence_by_hs_url: |
     else {matrix_client_element_default_hs_url: false}
   }}
 
-matrix_client_element_welcome_user_id: ~
-
 matrix_client_element_jitsi_preferred_domain: "{{ matrix_server_fqn_jitsi if jitsi_enabled else '' }}"
 
 ######################################################################
@@ -4014,8 +4012,6 @@ matrix_client_schildichat_enable_presence_by_hs_url: |
     else {matrix_client_schildichat_default_hs_url: false}
   }}
 
-matrix_client_schildichat_welcome_user_id: ~
-
 matrix_client_schildichat_jitsi_preferred_domain: "{{ matrix_server_fqn_jitsi if jitsi_enabled else '' }}"
 
 ######################################################################
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml
index 4905dc97715..7f68022808d 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ matrix_client_element_bug_report_endpoint_url: "https://element.io/bugreports/su
 matrix_client_element_show_lab_settings: true  # noqa var-naming
 # Element public room directory server(s)
 matrix_client_element_room_directory_servers: ['matrix.org']
-matrix_client_element_welcome_user_id: ~
 # Branding of Element
 matrix_client_element_brand: "Element"
 
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/tasks/validate_config.yml
index e9d9b410532..bf90b3d0312 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
     - {'old': 'matrix_client_element_branding_authHeaderLogoUrl', 'new': 'matrix_client_element_branding_auth_header_logo_url'}
     - {'old': 'matrix_client_element_branding_welcomeBackgroundUrl', 'new': 'matrix_client_element_branding_welcome_background_url'}
     - {'old': 'matrix_client_element_jitsi_preferredDomain', 'new': 'matrix_client_element_jitsi_preferred_domain'}
+    - {'old': 'matrix_client_element_welcome_user_id', 'new': '<removed>'}
 
 - when: matrix_client_element_container_labels_traefik_enabled | bool
   block:
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2 b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2
index 180a8f81881..dfb03fb1080 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 	"room_directory": {
 		"servers": {{ matrix_client_element_room_directory_servers | to_json }}
 	},
-	"welcome_user_id": {{ matrix_client_element_welcome_user_id | to_json }},
 	{% if matrix_client_element_enable_presence_by_hs_url is not none %}
 		"enable_presence_by_hs_url": {{ matrix_client_element_enable_presence_by_hs_url | to_json }},
 	{% endif %}
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/defaults/main.yml
index e777e6d4879..93e58bf7eb4 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/defaults/main.yml
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ matrix_client_schildichat_bug_report_endpoint_url: "https://element.io/bugreport
 matrix_client_schildichat_show_lab_settings: true  # noqa var-naming
 # schildichat public room directory server(s)
 matrix_client_schildichat_room_directory_servers: ['matrix.org']
-matrix_client_schildichat_welcome_user_id: ~
 # Branding of schildichat
 matrix_client_schildichat_brand: "schildichat"
 
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/tasks/validate_config.yml
index 966a74931bf..b5b5db54d98 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 ---
 
+- name: (Deprecation) Catch and report renamed Schildichat settings
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: >-
+      Your configuration contains a variable, which now has a different name.
+      Please change your configuration to rename the variable (`{{ item.old }}` -> `{{ item.new }}`).
+  when: "item.old in vars"
+  with_items:
+    - {'old': 'matrix_client_schildichat_welcome_user_id', 'new': '<removed>'}
+
 - name: Fail if required schildichat settings not defined
   ansible.builtin.fail:
     msg: >
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/templates/config.json.j2 b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/templates/config.json.j2
index fcf60f5d5f6..bd5ab79d29c 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/templates/config.json.j2
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-client-schildichat/templates/config.json.j2
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 	"room_directory": {
 		"servers": {{ matrix_client_schildichat_room_directory_servers | to_json }}
 	},
-	"welcome_user_id": {{ matrix_client_schildichat_welcome_user_id | to_json }},
 	{% if matrix_client_schildichat_enable_presence_by_hs_url is not none %}
 		"enable_presence_by_hs_url": {{ matrix_client_schildichat_enable_presence_by_hs_url | to_json }},
 	{% endif %}