diff --git a/cmd/proxy/actions/app.go b/cmd/proxy/actions/app.go
index 32e28d2b..7a1404ad 100644
--- a/cmd/proxy/actions/app.go
+++ b/cmd/proxy/actions/app.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func App(conf *config.Config) (*buffalo.App, error) {
 
 	initializeAuth(app)
 
-	if !conf.Proxy.FilterOff {
+	if !conf.FilterOff() {
 		mf, err := module.NewFilter(conf.FilterFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			lggr.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/config.dev.toml b/config.dev.toml
index 1654d78d..9ded2d7a 100644
--- a/config.dev.toml
+++ b/config.dev.toml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ CloudRuntime = "none"
 
 # The filename for the include exclude filter. Defaults to 'filter.conf'
 # Env override: ATHENS_FILTER_FILE
-FilterFile = "filter.conf"
+FilterFile = ""
 
 # Timeout is the timeout for external network calls in seconds
 # This value is used as the default for storage backends if they don't specify timeouts
@@ -75,11 +75,6 @@ Timeout = 300
     # Env override: ATHENS_REDIS_QUEUE_ADDRESS
     RedisQueueAddress = ":6379"
 
-    # Flag to turn off Proxy Filter middleware
-    # Defaults to true
-    # Env override: PROXY_FILTER_OFF
-    FilterOff = true
-
     # Username for basic auth
     # Env override: BASIC_AUTH_USER
     BasicAuthUser = ""
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 2ae51ee2..80f68d9f 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ type Config struct {
 	Storage          *StorageConfig
 }
 
+// FilterOff returns true if the FilterFile is empty
+func (c *Config) FilterOff() bool {
+	return c.FilterFile == ""
+}
+
 // ParseConfigFile parses the given file into an athens config struct
 func ParseConfigFile(configFile string) (*Config, error) {
 
diff --git a/pkg/config/config_test.go b/pkg/config/config_test.go
index 3af8cdcd..b03e832d 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ func TestEnvOverrides(t *testing.T) {
 		StorageType:    "minio",
 		GlobalEndpoint: "mytikas.gomods.io",
 		Port:           ":7000",
-		FilterOff:      false,
 		BasicAuthUser:  "testuser",
 		BasicAuthPass:  "testpass",
 		ForceSSL:       true,
@@ -77,7 +76,6 @@ func TestEnvOverrides(t *testing.T) {
 		BuffaloLogLevel: "info",
 		GoBinary:        "go11",
 		CloudRuntime:    "gcp",
-		FilterFile:      "filter2.conf",
 		TimeoutConf: TimeoutConf{
 			Timeout: 30,
 		},
@@ -203,7 +201,6 @@ func TestParseExampleConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		StorageType:    "memory",
 		GlobalEndpoint: "http://localhost:3001",
 		Port:           ":3000",
-		FilterOff:      true,
 		BasicAuthUser:  "",
 		BasicAuthPass:  "",
 	}
@@ -263,7 +260,6 @@ func TestParseExampleConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		GoGetWorkers:    30,
 		ProtocolWorkers: 30,
 		CloudRuntime:    "none",
-		FilterFile:      "filter.conf",
 		TimeoutConf: TimeoutConf{
 			Timeout: 300,
 		},
@@ -294,7 +290,6 @@ func getEnvMap(config *Config) map[string]string {
 		"ATHENS_LOG_LEVEL":        config.LogLevel,
 		"BUFFALO_LOG_LEVEL":       config.BuffaloLogLevel,
 		"ATHENS_CLOUD_RUNTIME":    config.CloudRuntime,
-		"ATHENS_FILTER_FILE":      config.FilterFile,
 		"ATHENS_TIMEOUT":          strconv.Itoa(config.Timeout),
 		"ATHENS_TRACE_EXPORTER":   config.TraceExporterURL,
 	}
@@ -304,7 +299,6 @@ func getEnvMap(config *Config) map[string]string {
 		envVars["ATHENS_STORAGE_TYPE"] = proxy.StorageType
 		envVars["ATHENS_GLOBAL_ENDPOINT"] = proxy.GlobalEndpoint
 		envVars["PORT"] = proxy.Port
-		envVars["PROXY_FILTER_OFF"] = strconv.FormatBool(proxy.FilterOff)
 		envVars["BASIC_AUTH_USER"] = proxy.BasicAuthUser
 		envVars["BASIC_AUTH_PASS"] = proxy.BasicAuthPass
 		envVars["PROXY_FORCE_SSL"] = strconv.FormatBool(proxy.ForceSSL)
diff --git a/pkg/config/proxy.go b/pkg/config/proxy.go
index 95872dfe..a1adffc9 100644
--- a/pkg/config/proxy.go
+++ b/pkg/config/proxy.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ type ProxyConfig struct {
 	StorageType    string `validate:"required" envconfig:"ATHENS_STORAGE_TYPE"`
 	GlobalEndpoint string `envconfig:"ATHENS_GLOBAL_ENDPOINT"` // This feature is not yet implemented
 	Port           string `validate:"required" envconfig:"PORT"`
-	FilterOff      bool   `envconfig:"PROXY_FILTER_OFF"`
 	BasicAuthUser  string `envconfig:"BASIC_AUTH_USER"`
 	BasicAuthPass  string `envconfig:"BASIC_AUTH_PASS"`
 	ForceSSL       bool   `envconfig:"PROXY_FORCE_SSL"`