diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index e37b79f..036c49f 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ tasks.register("runViaProxy", JavaExec) {
     mainClass = "net.raphimc.viaproxy.ViaProxy"
     classpath = viaProxyConfiguration
     workingDir = file("run")
+    jvmArgs = ["-DskipUpdateCheck"]
 
     doFirst {
         def jarsDir = file("$workingDir/jars")
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/ViaLegacyConfig.java b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/ViaLegacyConfig.java
index a87a7fe..c1a8fc0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/ViaLegacyConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/ViaLegacyConfig.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public class ViaLegacyConfig extends Config implements net.raphimc.vialegacy.pla
     private boolean soundEmulation;
     private boolean oldBiomes;
     private boolean enableB1_7_3Sprinting;
+    private String b1_7_3Motd;
     private int classicChunkRange;
     private boolean enableClassicFly;
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ private void loadFields() {
         this.soundEmulation = this.getBoolean("sound-emulation", true);
         this.oldBiomes = this.getBoolean("old-biomes", true);
         this.enableB1_7_3Sprinting = this.getBoolean("enable-b1_7_3-sprinting", false);
+        this.b1_7_3Motd = this.getString("b1_7_3-motd", "The server seems to be running!\nWait 5 seconds between each connection");
         this.classicChunkRange = this.getInt("classic-chunk-range", 10);
         this.enableClassicFly = this.getBoolean("enable-classic-fly", false);
     }
@@ -109,6 +111,11 @@ public boolean enableB1_7_3Sprinting() {
         return this.enableB1_7_3Sprinting;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public String getB1_7_3Motd() {
+        return this.b1_7_3Motd;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public int getClassicChunkRange() {
         return this.classicChunkRange;
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/platform/ViaLegacyConfig.java b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/platform/ViaLegacyConfig.java
index 6fe4b0c..b35344e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/platform/ViaLegacyConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/platform/ViaLegacyConfig.java
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ public interface ViaLegacyConfig extends Config {
 
     boolean enableB1_7_3Sprinting();
 
+    String getB1_7_3Motd();
+
     int getClassicChunkRange();
 
     boolean enableClassicFly();
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/protocol/beta/b1_7_0_3tob1_8_0_1/Protocolb1_7_0_3Tob1_8_0_1.java b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/protocol/beta/b1_7_0_3tob1_8_0_1/Protocolb1_7_0_3Tob1_8_0_1.java
index 0b57f7d..3ef1042 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/protocol/beta/b1_7_0_3tob1_8_0_1/Protocolb1_7_0_3Tob1_8_0_1.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/raphimc/vialegacy/protocol/beta/b1_7_0_3tob1_8_0_1/Protocolb1_7_0_3Tob1_8_0_1.java
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ public void register() {
                 wrapper.cancel();
             }
             final PacketWrapper pingResponse = PacketWrapper.create(ClientboundPacketsb1_8.DISCONNECT, wrapper.user());
-            pingResponse.write(Types1_6_4.STRING, "The server seems to be running!\nWait 5 seconds between each connection§0§1");
+            pingResponse.write(Types1_6_4.STRING, ViaLegacy.getConfig().getB1_7_3Motd() + "§0§1");
             pingResponse.send(Protocolb1_7_0_3Tob1_8_0_1.class);
         });
         this.registerServerbound(ServerboundPacketsb1_8.LOGIN, new PacketHandlers() {
diff --git a/src/main/resources/assets/vialegacy/vialegacy.yml b/src/main/resources/assets/vialegacy/vialegacy.yml
index d55a8b0..d906364 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/assets/vialegacy/vialegacy.yml
+++ b/src/main/resources/assets/vialegacy/vialegacy.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ old-biomes: true
 # Enables sprinting for versions below beta 1.8. !THIS CAN CAUSE ISSUES WITH ANTI-CHEAT PLUGINS!
 enable-b1_7_3-sprinting: false
 #
+# The MOTD to use for <= beta 1.7.3 servers. Supports newlines. Doesn't support color codes.
+b1_7_3-motd: |
+  The server seems to be running!
+  Wait 5 seconds between each connection
+#
 # Classic chunk loading range
 classic-chunk-range: 10
 #