diff --git a/go/pkg/gateway/config/config.go b/go/pkg/gateway/config/config.go
index b88d4c8822..536baf6d5c 100644
--- a/go/pkg/gateway/config/config.go
+++ b/go/pkg/gateway/config/config.go
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ type Gateway struct {
 	CtrlAddr string `toml:"ctrl_addr,omitempty"`
 	// Data plane address, for frames.
 	DataAddr string `toml:"data_addr,omitempty"`
-	// SCION dispatcher path.
-	Dispatcher string `toml:"dispatcher,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (cfg *Gateway) Validate() error {
@@ -58,9 +56,6 @@ func (cfg *Gateway) Validate() error {
 	if cfg.TrafficPolicy == "" {
 		cfg.TrafficPolicy = DefaultSessionPoliciesFile
 	}
-	if cfg.IPRoutingPolicy == "" {
-		cfg.IPRoutingPolicy = DefaultIPRoutingPolicyFile
-	}
 	cfg.CtrlAddr = DefaultAddress(cfg.CtrlAddr, defaultCtrlPort)
 	cfg.DataAddr = DefaultAddress(cfg.DataAddr, defaultDataPort)
 	return nil
diff --git a/go/pkg/gateway/config/configtest/configtest.go b/go/pkg/gateway/config/configtest/configtest.go
index a39ee32456..29c3c83efa 100644
--- a/go/pkg/gateway/config/configtest/configtest.go
+++ b/go/pkg/gateway/config/configtest/configtest.go
@@ -22,17 +22,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/scionproto/scion/go/pkg/gateway/config"
 )
 
-func InitGateway(cfg *config.Gateway) {
-	cfg.Dispatcher = "garbage"
-}
+func InitGateway(cfg *config.Gateway) {}
 
 func CheckGateway(t *testing.T, cfg *config.Gateway) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "gateway", cfg.ID)
 	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultSessionPoliciesFile, cfg.TrafficPolicy)
-	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultIPRoutingPolicyFile, cfg.IPRoutingPolicy)
+	assert.Empty(t, cfg.IPRoutingPolicy)
 	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultCtrlAddr, cfg.CtrlAddr)
 	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultDataAddr, cfg.DataAddr)
-	assert.Empty(t, cfg.Dispatcher)
 }
 
 func InitTunnel(cfg *config.Tunnel) {}
diff --git a/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader.go b/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader.go
index 2fea429385..69d8cfe912 100644
--- a/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader.go
+++ b/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader.go
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 package config
 
 import (
-	"os"
-
 	"github.com/scionproto/scion/go/lib/log"
 	"github.com/scionproto/scion/go/lib/serrors"
 	"github.com/scionproto/scion/go/pkg/gateway/control"
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ const (
 	// FIXME(lukedirtwalker): cleanup traffic policy and use "session.policy"
 	// instead.
 	DefaultSessionPoliciesFile = "/share/conf/traffic.policy"
-	DefaultIPRoutingPolicyFile = "/share/conf/ip_routing.policy"
 )
 
 // Publisher publishes new configurations.
@@ -71,9 +68,6 @@ func (l *Loader) validate() error {
 	if l.SessionPoliciesFile == "" {
 		return serrors.New("SessionPoliciesFile must be set")
 	}
-	if l.RoutingPolicyFile == "" {
-		return serrors.New("RoutingPolicyFile must be set")
-	}
 	if l.Publisher == nil {
 		return serrors.New("Publisher must be set")
 	}
@@ -120,21 +114,11 @@ func (l *Loader) loadFiles() (control.SessionPolicies, *routing.Policy, error) {
 }
 
 func (l *Loader) loadRoutingPolicy() (*routing.Policy, error) {
-	path := l.RoutingPolicyFile
-	if path == DefaultIPRoutingPolicyFile {
-		// for a default file that doesn't exist return a default routing policy
-		// that rejects everything.
-		_, err := os.Stat(path)
-		switch {
-		case err == nil:
-		case os.IsNotExist(err):
-			return &routing.Policy{DefaultAction: routing.Reject}, nil
-		default:
-			return nil, serrors.WrapStr("accessing default routing policy file", err,
-				"file", path)
-		}
+	if l.RoutingPolicyFile == "" {
+		// return a default routing policy that rejects everything.
+		return &routing.Policy{DefaultAction: routing.Reject}, nil
 	}
-	rp, err := routing.LoadPolicy(path)
+	rp, err := routing.LoadPolicy(l.RoutingPolicyFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader_test.go b/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader_test.go
index c1dcd9affd..7204e62746 100644
--- a/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader_test.go
+++ b/go/pkg/gateway/config/loader_test.go
@@ -117,21 +117,6 @@ func TestLoaderRun(t *testing.T) {
 			}()
 			xtest.AssertReadReturnsBefore(t, doneCh, time.Second)
 		},
-		"missing routing policy file fails": func(t *testing.T, ctrl *gomock.Controller) {
-			loader := &config.Loader{
-				SessionPoliciesFile: "session.policy",
-				Publisher:           mock_config.NewMockPublisher(ctrl),
-				Trigger:             make(chan struct{}),
-				SessionPolicyParser: mock_control.NewMockSessionPolicyParser(ctrl),
-			}
-			doneCh := make(chan struct{})
-			go func() {
-				defer close(doneCh)
-				err := loader.Run()
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-			}()
-			xtest.AssertReadReturnsBefore(t, doneCh, time.Second)
-		},
 		"close before run immediately returns": func(t *testing.T, ctrl *gomock.Controller) {
 			loader := &config.Loader{
 				SessionPoliciesFile: "session.policy",
@@ -232,7 +217,7 @@ func TestLoaderRun(t *testing.T) {
 			logger.EXPECT().Info(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any())
 			loader := &config.Loader{
 				SessionPoliciesFile: spFile,
-				RoutingPolicyFile:   config.DefaultIPRoutingPolicyFile,
+				RoutingPolicyFile:   "",
 				Publisher:           publisher,
 				Trigger:             trigger,
 				SessionPolicyParser: parser,
diff --git a/go/pkg/gateway/config/sample.go b/go/pkg/gateway/config/sample.go
index a360290021..0c04a610dd 100644
--- a/go/pkg/gateway/config/sample.go
+++ b/go/pkg/gateway/config/sample.go
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ const gatewaySample = `
 # ID of the gateway (default "gateway")
 id = "gateway"
 
-# The traffic policy file. This file is required to exist. If empty, the gateway
-# attempts to read from the default location.
-# (default "/share/conf/traffic.policy")
-
 # The traffic policy file. If not set or empty, the gateway attempts to read the
 # policy from the default location. If set, the gateway will read the policy from
 # the specified location. If the file does not exist, the gateway will exit with
@@ -29,13 +25,11 @@ id = "gateway"
 # (default "/share/conf/traffic.policy")
 traffic_policy_file = "/share/conf/traffic.policy"
 
-# The IP routing policy file. If not set or empty, the gateway attempts to read
-# the policy from the default location. If set, the gateway will read the policy
-# from the specified location. If the file is specified but does not exist, the
-# gateway will exit with an error. It the file is not specified and no file in the
-# default location exists, a default policy that rejects everything is used.
-# (default "/share/conf/ip_routing.policy")
-ip_routing_policy_file = "/share/conf/ip_routing.policy"
+# The IP routing policy file. If set, the gateway will read the policy
+# from the specified location. It no file is specified, a default policy
+# that rejects all IP prefix announcements is used.
+# (default "")
+ip_routing_policy_file = ""
 
 # The bind address for control messages. If the host part of the address is
 # empty, the gateway infers the address based on the route to the control
@@ -56,9 +50,6 @@ ctrl_addr = ":30256"
 #
 # (default ":30056")
 data_addr = ":30056"
-
-# Custom SCION dispatcher path (default "")
-dispatcher = ""
 `
 
 const tunnelSample = `