diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9840a0c1346f27a358df5e1643177dc35987928c..a6d1ea6dde15338b81def880e9a68c5978262955 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ followed by `make builddep`.
 
 To contribute code, you need an [MPI-SWS GitLab account][account] (use the
 "Register" tab).  Please send your MPI-SWS GitLab username to [Ralf Jung][jung]
-to enable personal projects for your account.  Then you can fork the
+to unlock forks for your account.  Then you can fork the
 [Iris git repository][iris], make your changes in your fork, and create a merge
 request.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26683828dc4c4c7ffa3d378fa7c724d26e490732..9d94251faf17bd4cf43b54a95cdd119cedab0d81 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ Contacting the developers:
   [iris-club@lists.mpi-sws.org](https://lists.mpi-sws.org/listinfo/iris-club)
   and in the [Iris Chat](https://mattermost.mpi-sws.org/iris).  This is also the
   right place to ask questions.  The chat requires an account at the
-  [MPI-SWS GitLab](https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/users/sign_in) (use the "Register"
-  tab). If you have trouble joining the chat, please contact
-  [Ralf](https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/jung).
+  [MPI-SWS GitLab](https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/users/sign_in): use the "Register"
+  tab, and then contact [Ralf](https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/jung) to have your
+  account unlocked.
 * If you want to report a bug, please use the
   [issue tracker](https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/iris/iris/issues), which also
   requires an MPI-SWS GitLab account.