diff --git a/permissions.yml b/permissions.yml
index 8fd450d..4f65a8c 100644
--- a/permissions.yml
+++ b/permissions.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ op:
       geyser.command.reload: false
       geyser.command.stop: false
 
+      # Essentials requires this permission to be explicitly granted
+      # to players
+
+      essentials.nick.allowunsafe: true
+
       # Due to WorldEdit permission shenanigans, we have to grant
       # permissions manually to enforce block edit limits
 
diff --git a/plugins/Essentials/config.yml b/plugins/Essentials/config.yml
index c22b06c..55078d8 100644
--- a/plugins/Essentials/config.yml
+++ b/plugins/Essentials/config.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ max-nick-length: 64
 # The regex pattern used to determine if a requested nickname should be allowed for use.
 # If the a requested nickname does not matched this pattern, the nickname will be rejected.
 # Users with essentials.nick.allowunsafe will be able to bypass this check.
-allowed-nicks-regex: '^[a-zA-Z_0-9§]+$'
+allowed-nicks-regex: ''
 
 # A list of phrases that cannot be used in nicknames. You can include regular expressions here.
 # Users with essentials.nick.blacklist.bypass will be able to bypass this filter.