diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/apps.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/apps.py
index d6b0264e70..25ec68903d 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/apps.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/permissions/apps.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ from common import (
 )
 from rest_api.classes import APIEndPoint
 
-from .handlers import apply_default_roles
 from .models import Role
 from .links import (
     link_permission_grant, link_permission_revoke, link_role_create,
@@ -31,5 +30,3 @@ class PermissionsApp(MayanAppConfig):
         menu_multi_item.bind_links(links=[link_permission_grant, link_permission_revoke], sources=['permissions:role_permissions'])
         menu_secondary.bind_links(links=[link_role_list, link_role_create], sources=[Role, 'permissions:role_create', 'permissions:role_list'])
         menu_setup.bind_links(links=[link_role_list])
-
-        post_save.connect(apply_default_roles, dispatch_uid='apply_default_roles', sender=User)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/handlers.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/handlers.py
deleted file mode 100644
index f3d3e87d40..0000000000
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/handlers.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
-from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
-
-from .models import Role
-
-from .settings import setting_default_roles
-
-
-def apply_default_roles(sender, instance, **kwargs):
-    if kwargs.get('created', False):
-        for default_role in setting_default_roles.value:
-            if isinstance(default_role, Role):
-                # If a model is passed, execute method
-                default_role.add_member(instance)
-            else:
-                # If a role name is passed, lookup the corresponding model
-                try:
-                    role = Role.objects.get(name=default_role)
-                    role.add_member(instance)
-                except ObjectDoesNotExist:
-                    pass
diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/settings.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/settings.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 172c724749..0000000000
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/settings.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
-from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
-
-from smart_settings import Namespace
-
-namespace = Namespace(name='permissions', label=_('Permissions'))
-setting_default_roles = namespace.add_setting(global_name='ROLES_DEFAULT_ROLES', default=[], help_text=_('A list of existing roles that are automatically assigned to newly created users.'))