diff --git a/backend/config.py b/backend/config.py
index 099f726ca..b5e7a5394 100644
--- a/backend/config.py
+++ b/backend/config.py
@@ -290,7 +290,12 @@ DEFAULT_PROMPT_SUGGESTIONS = (
 
 
 DEFAULT_USER_ROLE = os.getenv("DEFAULT_USER_ROLE", "pending")
-USER_PERMISSIONS = {"chat": {"deletion": True}}
+
+USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_DELETION = (
+    os.environ.get("USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_DELETION", "True").lower() == "true"
+)
+
+USER_PERMISSIONS = {"chat": {"deletion": USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_DELETION}}
 
 
 MODEL_FILTER_ENABLED = os.environ.get("MODEL_FILTER_ENABLED", False)
diff --git a/backend/constants.py b/backend/constants.py
index 05bdebc54..994b8caf7 100644
--- a/backend/constants.py
+++ b/backend/constants.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class ERROR_MESSAGES(str, Enum):
 
     PANDOC_NOT_INSTALLED = "Pandoc is not installed on the server. Please contact your administrator for assistance."
     INCORRECT_FORMAT = (
-        lambda err="": f"Invalid format. Please use the correct format{err if err else ''}"
+        lambda err="": f"Invalid format. Please use the correct format{err}"
     )
     RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED = "API rate limit exceeded"