diff --git a/youcat/README.md b/youcat/README.md
index bb3babd3..903da4c7 100644
--- a/youcat/README.md
+++ b/youcat/README.md
@@ -82,18 +82,18 @@ See <a href="https://github.com/opencadc/tap/tree/master/cadc-tap-tmp">cadc-tap-
 
 The youcat.properties configures some admin and optional functions of the service.
 ```
-# configure the admin user
+# (optional) configure the admin user
 org.opencadc.youcat.adminUser = {identity}
 
-# (optional) configure schema creation in the database (default: false)
+# (optional) schema creation in the database (default: false)
 org.opencadc.youcat.createSchemaInDB = true|false
 ```
 The admin user can use the youcat API to create a new schema for a user. This will add the
-schema to the `tap_schema.schemas` table and enable the user to create tables in that 
-schema. If the optional _createSchemaInDB_ flag is set to true, a schema created by admin
-will be created in the database in addition to being added to the `tap_schema`. If false,
-`youcat` will not create the schema in the database and just assume it exists and that the 
-`tapadm` pool has permission to create objects (tables and indices) in it.
+schema to the `tap_schema.schemas` table with the specified owner and enable the owner to 
+further manage that schema. If the optional _createSchemaInDB_ flag is set to true, a schema 
+created by admin will be created in the database in addition to being added to the `tap_schema`. 
+If false, `youcat` will not create the schema in the database and just assume it exists and 
+that the `tapadm` pool has permission to create objects (tables and indices) in it.
 
 As hard-coded behaviours of `youcat` are extracted from the build and made configurable,
 the configuration options will usually be in this file (see **development plans** below).
diff --git a/youcat/src/main/java/org/opencadc/youcat/YoucatInitAction.java b/youcat/src/main/java/org/opencadc/youcat/YoucatInitAction.java
index a4a31712..22a2cbbd 100644
--- a/youcat/src/main/java/org/opencadc/youcat/YoucatInitAction.java
+++ b/youcat/src/main/java/org/opencadc/youcat/YoucatInitAction.java
@@ -109,11 +109,10 @@ private void initConfig() {
         sb.append("incomplete config: ");
         boolean ok = true;
 
-        String username = mvp.getFirstPropertyValue(YOUCAT_ADMIN);
+        String adminUser = mvp.getFirstPropertyValue(YOUCAT_ADMIN);
         sb.append("\n\t" + YOUCAT_ADMIN + ": ");
-        if (username == null) {
+        if (adminUser == null) {
             sb.append("MISSING");
-            ok = false;
         } else {
             sb.append("OK");
         }
@@ -130,16 +129,19 @@ private void initConfig() {
             throw new InvalidConfigException(sb.toString());
         }
         
-        HttpPrincipal hp = new HttpPrincipal(username);
-        Boolean createSchemaInDB = true;
-        if (yc != null && "false".equals(yc)) {
-            createSchemaInDB = false;
+        Boolean createSchemaInDB = false; // default: false for backwards compat
+        if (yc != null && "true".equals(yc)) {
+            createSchemaInDB = true;
         }
         try {
             Context ctx = new InitialContext();
-            ctx.bind(jndiAdminKey, hp);
-            ctx.bind(jndiCreateSchemaKey, createSchemaInDB);
-            log.info("init: admin=" + hp + " createSchemaInDB=" + createSchemaInDB);
+            if (adminUser != null) {
+                ctx.bind(jndiAdminKey, new HttpPrincipal(adminUser));
+            }
+            if (createSchemaInDB != null) {
+                ctx.bind(jndiCreateSchemaKey, createSchemaInDB);
+            }
+            log.info("init: admin=" + adminUser + " createSchemaInDB=" + createSchemaInDB);
         } catch (Exception ex) {
             log.error("Failed to create JNDI key(s): " + jndiAdminKey + "|" + jndiCreateSchemaKey, ex);
         }