diff --git a/appview/repo/settings.go b/appview/repo/settings.go
index b0ed53f5..1b54b342 100644
--- a/appview/repo/settings.go
+++ b/appview/repo/settings.go
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func (rp *Repo) EditBaseSettings(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	)
 
 	err = rp.validator.ValidateURI(website)
-	if err != nil {
+	if website != "" && err != nil {
 		l.Error("invalid uri", "err", err)
 		rp.pages.Notice(w, noticeId, err.Error())
 		return
diff --git a/nix/vm.nix b/nix/vm.nix
index 1af69431..0caf8a61 100644
--- a/nix/vm.nix
+++ b/nix/vm.nix
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ in
           enable = true;
           server = {
             owner = envVar "TANGLED_VM_SPINDLE_OWNER";
-            hostname = envVarOr "TANGLED_VM_SPINDLE_OWNER" "localhost:6555";
+            hostname = envVarOr "TANGLED_VM_SPINDLE_HOST" "localhost:6555";
             plcUrl = plcUrl;
             jetstreamEndpoint = jetstream;
             listenAddr = "0.0.0.0:6555";
diff --git a/spindle/config/config.go b/spindle/config/config.go
index 65b9c2eb..ea310a6d 100644
--- a/spindle/config/config.go
+++ b/spindle/config/config.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	DBPath            string  `env:"DB_PATH, default=spindle.db"`
 	Hostname          string  `env:"HOSTNAME, required"`
 	JetstreamEndpoint string  `env:"JETSTREAM_ENDPOINT, default=wss://jetstream1.us-west.bsky.network/subscribe"`
-	PlcUrl            string  `env:"PLC_URL, default=plc.directory"`
+	PlcUrl            string  `env:"PLC_URL, default=https://plc.directory"`
 	Dev               bool    `env:"DEV, default=false"`
 	Owner             string  `env:"OWNER, required"`
 	Secrets           Secrets `env:",prefix=SECRETS_"`