diff --git a/src/app.ts b/src/app.ts
index ef93ea80..007172b1 100644
--- a/src/app.ts
+++ b/src/app.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 import {
-  SCConfigFile,
   SCNotFoundErrorResponse,
   SCRequestBodyTooLargeErrorResponse,
   SCSyntaxErrorResponse,
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ import * as cors from 'cors';
 import * as express from 'express';
 import * as morgan from 'morgan';
 import {join} from 'path';
-import {logger, mailer} from './common';
+import {configFile, logger, mailer} from './common';
 import {MailQueue} from './notification/MailQueue';
 import {bulkAddRouter} from './routes/BulkAddRoute';
 import {bulkDoneRouter} from './routes/BulkDoneRoute';
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ import {Elasticsearch} from './storage/elasticsearch/Elasticsearch';
 
 export const app = express();
 const isTestEnvironment = process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production';
-const configFile: SCConfigFile = app.get('config');
 
 async function configureApp() {
   // request loggers have to be the first middleware to be set in express
@@ -113,9 +111,7 @@ async function configureApp() {
   await scValidator.addSchemas(join('node_modules', '@openstapps', 'core', 'lib', 'schema'));
 
   // validate the config file
-  const configValidation = scValidator.validate(config.util.toObject(), 'SCConfigFile');
-  // use the config file
-  app.set('config', config.util.toObject());
+  const configValidation = scValidator.validate(configFile, 'SCConfigFile');
 
   // validation failed
   if (configValidation.errors.length > 0) {
@@ -139,7 +135,7 @@ async function configureApp() {
 
   const database =
     new databases[config.get<string>('internal.database.name')](
-      config.util.toObject(),
+      configFile,
       app.get('mailQueue'),
     );
 
diff --git a/src/common.ts b/src/common.ts
index b6189d74..73d265f6 100644
--- a/src/common.ts
+++ b/src/common.ts
@@ -13,9 +13,13 @@
  * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
+import {SCConfigFile} from '@openstapps/core';
 import {Logger} from '@openstapps/logger';
+import * as config from 'config';
 import {BackendTransport} from './notification/BackendTransport';
 
 export const mailer = BackendTransport.getTransportInstance();
 
 export const logger = new Logger(mailer);
+
+export const configFile: SCConfigFile = config.util.toObject();
diff --git a/src/routes/IndexRoute.ts b/src/routes/IndexRoute.ts
index 6292acff..85a88dd5 100644
--- a/src/routes/IndexRoute.ts
+++ b/src/routes/IndexRoute.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 import {SCConfigFile, SCIndexResponse, SCIndexRoute} from '@openstapps/core';
-import * as config from 'config';
+import {configFile} from '../common';
 import {createRoute} from './Route';
 
 const indexRouteModel = new SCIndexRoute();
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ const indexRouteModel = new SCIndexRoute();
 export const indexRouter = createRoute<SCIndexResponse>(
   indexRouteModel,
   async (_request: SCIndexRoute, _app) => {
-    const configObject: SCConfigFile = config.util.toObject();
-    delete configObject.internal;
+    const {internal, ...configObject}: SCConfigFile  = configFile;
     return configObject;
   },
 );
diff --git a/src/routes/MultiSearchRoute.ts b/src/routes/MultiSearchRoute.ts
index 01f18b32..a3e9a933 100644
--- a/src/routes/MultiSearchRoute.ts
+++ b/src/routes/MultiSearchRoute.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 import {
-  SCConfigFile,
   SCMultiSearchRequest,
   SCMultiSearchResponse,
   SCMultiSearchRoute,
   SCSearchResponse,
   SCTooManyRequestsErrorResponse,
 } from '@openstapps/core';
+import {configFile} from '../common';
 import {BulkStorage} from '../storage/BulkStorage';
 import {createRoute} from './Route';
 
@@ -33,11 +33,10 @@ export const multiSearchRouter = createRoute<SCMultiSearchResponse | SCTooManyRe
   multiSearchRouteModel,
   async (request: SCMultiSearchRequest, app) => {
 
-    const config: SCConfigFile = app.get('config');
     const bulkMemory: BulkStorage = app.get('bulk');
     const queryNames = Object.keys(request);
 
-    if (queryNames.length > config.backend.maxMultiSearchRouteQueries) {
+    if (queryNames.length > configFile.backend.maxMultiSearchRouteQueries) {
       throw new SCTooManyRequestsErrorResponse(app.get('isProductiveEnvironment'));
     }