diff --git a/irc/chanserv.go b/irc/chanserv.go
index adc1845c..e1d690d0 100644
--- a/irc/chanserv.go
+++ b/irc/chanserv.go
@@ -293,16 +293,17 @@ func csOpHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []string
 }
 
 func csRegisterHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []string, rb *ResponseBuffer) {
-	channelName := params[0]
-
-	channelKey, err := CasefoldChannel(channelName)
-	if err != nil {
-		csNotice(rb, client.t("Channel name is not valid"))
+	if server.Config().Channels.Registration.OperatorOnly && !client.HasRoleCapabs("chanreg") {
+		csNotice(rb, client.t("Channel registration is restricted to server operators"))
 		return
 	}
-
-	channelInfo := server.channels.Get(channelKey)
-	if channelInfo == nil || !channelInfo.ClientIsAtLeast(client, modes.ChannelOperator) {
+	channelName := params[0]
+	channelInfo := server.channels.Get(channelName)
+	if channelInfo == nil {
+		csNotice(rb, client.t("No such channel"))
+		return
+	}
+	if !channelInfo.ClientIsAtLeast(client, modes.ChannelOperator) {
 		csNotice(rb, client.t("You must be an oper on the channel to register it"))
 		return
 	}
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ func csRegisterHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []
 	}
 
 	// this provides the synchronization that allows exactly one registration of the channel:
-	err = server.channels.SetRegistered(channelKey, account)
+	err := server.channels.SetRegistered(channelName, account)
 	if err != nil {
 		csNotice(rb, err.Error())
 		return
diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index e843f445..6912df7c 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -385,12 +385,6 @@ func (cm *Casemapping) UnmarshalYAML(unmarshal func(interface{}) error) (err err
 	return nil
 }
 
-// ChannelRegistrationConfig controls channel registration.
-type ChannelRegistrationConfig struct {
-	Enabled               bool
-	MaxChannelsPerAccount int `yaml:"max-channels-per-account"`
-}
-
 // OperClassConfig defines a specific operator class.
 type OperClassConfig struct {
 	Title        string
@@ -534,7 +528,11 @@ type Config struct {
 		defaultModes         modes.Modes
 		MaxChannelsPerClient int  `yaml:"max-channels-per-client"`
 		OpOnlyCreation       bool `yaml:"operator-only-creation"`
-		Registration         ChannelRegistrationConfig
+		Registration         struct {
+			Enabled               bool
+			OperatorOnly          bool `yaml:"operator-only"`
+			MaxChannelsPerAccount int  `yaml:"max-channels-per-account"`
+		}
 	}
 
 	OperClasses map[string]*OperClassConfig `yaml:"oper-classes"`
diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index 048fcfc9..f57151e3 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -472,6 +472,10 @@ channels:
         # can users register new channels?
         enabled: true
 
+        # restrict new channel registrations to operators only?
+        # (operators can then transfer channels to regular users using /CS TRANSFER)
+        operator-only: false
+
         # how many channels can each account register?
         max-channels-per-account: 15