diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e78a461..77ac754 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 .venv/
 __pycache__/
 *.pyc
-nickserv_password.txt
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 17606ea..d4f4445 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 A small MCP server that gives Claude Code an IRC connection.
 
 - Connects to `irc.rizon.net:6697` over TLS as `clod`. If that nick is taken it uses `clod_` and tries to switch back every `nick_retry_seconds` (default 180)
-- Identifies to NickServ whenever it holds `clod`, using the password in `nickserv_password.txt` (gitignored, set by `nickserv_password_file`)
 - Answers server PINGs, sends its own keepalive PING, and reconnects automatically
 - Can only join channels listed in `allowed_channels` in `config.json` (re-read on every call, so edits apply right away)
 - Keeps a rolling buffer of recent messages per joined channel (`buffer_size`, default 200)
diff --git a/config.json b/config.json
index fb4a801..e2aaa64 100644
--- a/config.json
+++ b/config.json
@@ -8,6 +8,5 @@
   "realname": "Claude Code IRC MCP",
   "allowed_channels": ["#blog", "#/g/tv"],
   "buffer_size": 200,
-  "nickserv_password_file": "nickserv_password.txt",
   "nick_retry_seconds": 180
 }
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 51bb47f..f002383 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ messages, and exposes tools to join/leave/send/read/list users.
 
 It never sends chat text on its own: the only things it writes to the server
 unprompted are protocol traffic (NICK/USER registration, PONG replies,
-keepalive PINGs, NickServ IDENTIFY, periodic NICK attempts to reclaim the
-configured nick, and re-joining channels you already joined after a reconnect).
+keepalive PINGs, periodic NICK attempts to reclaim the configured nick, and
+re-joining channels you already joined after a reconnect).
 """
 
 import asyncio
@@ -47,24 +47,10 @@ def load_config() -> dict:
     cfg.setdefault("realname", cfg["nick"])
     cfg.setdefault("allowed_channels", [])
     cfg.setdefault("buffer_size", 200)
-    cfg.setdefault("nickserv_password_file", "")
     cfg.setdefault("nick_retry_seconds", 180)
     return cfg
 
 
-def nickserv_password(cfg: dict) -> str:
-    """Read the NickServ password from its (gitignored) file, relative to the config."""
-    name = cfg["nickserv_password_file"]
-    if not name:
-        return ""
-    path = CONFIG_PATH.parent / name
-    try:
-        return path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        log.warning("NickServ password file %s not found; not identifying", path)
-        return ""
-
-
 def irc_lower(s: str) -> str:
     """RFC 1459 case folding, used for channel and nick comparison."""
     return s.lower().translate(str.maketrans("[]\\~", "{}|^"))
@@ -214,14 +200,6 @@ class IRCClient:
                 log.info("trying to reclaim nick %s", cfg["nick"])
                 await self.send_raw(f"NICK {cfg['nick']}")
 
-    async def _identify(self):
-        """Identify to NickServ, but only while holding the configured (registered) nick."""
-        cfg = load_config()
-        password = nickserv_password(cfg)
-        if password and self._is_me(cfg["nick"]):
-            log.info("identifying to NickServ as %s", self.nick)
-            await self.send_raw(f"PRIVMSG NickServ :IDENTIFY {password}")
-
     async def _quit(self):
         if self.writer:
             try:
@@ -261,7 +239,6 @@ class IRCClient:
             self.registered.set()
             self.status = f"connected as {self.nick}"
             log.info(self.status)
-            await self._identify()
             for ch in list(self.wanted):
                 await self.send_raw(f"JOIN {self.display.get(ch, ch)}")
         elif cmd in ("432", "433", "436") and not self.registered.is_set():
@@ -310,7 +287,6 @@ class IRCClient:
             if self._is_me(src):
                 self.nick = p[0]
                 self.status = f"connected as {self.nick}"
-                await self._identify()
             for ch, nicks in self.joined.items():
                 if src in nicks:
                     nicks.discard(src)