diff --git a/config/default.yaml b/config/default.yaml
index 1170276..3693dbc 100644
--- a/config/default.yaml
+++ b/config/default.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ meilisearch:
     channels: 'peertube-index-channels'
     playlists: 'peertube-index-playlists'
 
+  # Avoid updating index settings at startup
+  # Set to true when a new release of the search index updates index settings
+  force_settings_update_at_startup: false
+
 log:
   level: 'debug' # debug/info/warning/error
 
diff --git a/server/initializers/constants.ts b/server/initializers/constants.ts
index 3783659..252383a 100644
--- a/server/initializers/constants.ts
+++ b/server/initializers/constants.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ const CONFIG = {
       VIDEOS: config.get<string>('meilisearch.indexes.videos'),
       CHANNELS: config.get<string>('meilisearch.indexes.channels'),
       PLAYLISTS: config.get<string>('meilisearch.indexes.playlists')
-    }
+    },
+    FORCE_SETTINGS_UPDATE_AT_STARTUP: config.get<boolean>('meilisearch.force_settings_update_at_startup')
   },
   LOG: {
     LEVEL: config.get<string>('log.level')
diff --git a/server/lib/indexers/shared/abstract-indexer.ts b/server/lib/indexers/shared/abstract-indexer.ts
index 0ff8246..31db4c8 100644
--- a/server/lib/indexers/shared/abstract-indexer.ts
+++ b/server/lib/indexers/shared/abstract-indexer.ts
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ export abstract class AbstractIndexer <T extends IndexableDoc, DB> {
   async initIndex () {
     const { results } = await client.getIndexes()
 
-    if (results.some(r => r.uid === this.indexName)) {
+    if (!CONFIG.MEILISEARCH.FORCE_SETTINGS_UPDATE_AT_STARTUP && results.some(r => r.uid === this.indexName)) {
       logger.info(this.indexName + ' already exists, skipping configuration')
       return
     }
 
-    logger.info('Creating and configuring index ' + this.indexName)
+    logger.info(`Creating/updating "${this.indexName}" index settings`)
 
     await client.index(this.indexName).updateSearchableAttributes(this.searchableAttributes)
     await client.index(this.indexName).updateFilterableAttributes(this.filterableAttributes)