diff --git a/migrations/20231113165814_removeMessageTemplates.js b/migrations/20231113165814_removeMessageTemplates.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c453398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20231113165814_removeMessageTemplates.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/**
+ * @param { import("knex").Knex } knex
+ * @returns { Promise<void> }
+ */
+exports.up = function(knex) {
+  return knex.schema
+    .alterTable('counters', table => {
+      table.dropColumn('messageTemplate');
+    });
+};
+
+/**
+ * @param { import("knex").Knex } knex
+ * @returns { Promise<void> }
+ */
+exports.down = function(knex) {
+  return knex.schema
+    .alterTable('counters', table => {
+      table.string('messageTemplate');
+    });
+};
diff --git a/src/lib/counter.ts b/src/lib/counter.ts
index 8da27fb..938dfd2 100644
--- a/src/lib/counter.ts
+++ b/src/lib/counter.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ export async function getCounterConfigRaw(counter: Counter) {
 
   // just the ugly way of life
   config.set('emoji', counter.emoji);
-  config.set('messageTemplate', counter.messageTemplate || (counterConfigs.get('messageTemplate')!.default! as string)); // wow! this line is truly awful
 
   return config;
 }
@@ -93,14 +92,6 @@ export async function setCounterConfig(id: number, option: string, value: string
       });
     return;
   }
-  if (option === 'messageTemplate') {
-    await db<Counter>('counters')
-      .where('id', id)
-      .update({
-        'messageTemplate': value
-      });
-    return;
-  }
 
   const updated = await db<CounterConfiguration>('counterConfigurations')
     .update({
@@ -170,15 +161,15 @@ export const counterConfigs = new Map([
     type: ConfigType.Bool,
     default: false
   }],
+  ['messageTemplate', {
+    type: ConfigType.String,
+    default: '**%user** has %action the counter by **%amt**.'
+  }],
 
   // these ones are fake and are just stand-ins for values defined inside the actual counters table
   ['emoji', {
     type: ConfigType.String,
     default: ''
-  }],
-  ['messageTemplate', {
-    type: ConfigType.String,
-    default: '**%user** has %action the counter by **%amt**.'
   }]
 ]);
 
@@ -213,8 +204,8 @@ export async function updateCounter(bot: Client, counter: Counter, value: number
 export async function announceCounterUpdate(bot: Client, member: GuildMember, delta: number, counter: Counter, value: number) {
   const channel = await bot.channels.fetch(counter.channel) as TextChannel;
 
-  const template = counter.messageTemplate || counterConfigs.get('messageTemplate')!.default as string;
-  const anonymous = await getCounterConfig(counter.id, 'anonymous');
+  const template = await getCounterConfig(counter.id, 'messageTemplate') as string;
+  const anonymous = await getCounterConfig(counter.id, 'anonymous') as boolean;
 
   const embed = new EmbedBuilder()
     //.setDescription(`**${member.toString()}** has ${delta > 0 ? 'increased' : 'decreased'} the counter by **${Math.abs(delta)}**.`)
diff --git a/src/lib/db.ts b/src/lib/db.ts
index ead541d..d1ae0ef 100644
--- a/src/lib/db.ts
+++ b/src/lib/db.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ export interface Counter {
   channel: string,
   guild: string,
   message?: string,
-  messageTemplate?: string,
   allowlistConsumer: boolean,
   allowlistProducer: boolean
 }