diff --git a/gmap.module b/gmap.module
index ebc6a5d..c6a6783 100644
--- a/gmap.module
+++ b/gmap.module
@@ -906,12 +906,6 @@ function gmap_map_cleanup(&$map) {
 function theme_gmap($variables) {
   $element = $variables['element'];
 
-  // Usability: Prevent js errors on first visit to settings page, etc.
-  // Of course it will still error if the *wrong* key is on file.
-  if (gmap_get_key() == '') {
-    return t('Unable to render map: Google Maps API key is missing.');
-  }
-
   // Track the mapids we've used already.
   static $mapids = array();
 
diff --git a/gmap_settings_ui.inc b/gmap_settings_ui.inc
index 6317c50..29f36e7 100644
--- a/gmap_settings_ui.inc
+++ b/gmap_settings_ui.inc
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function gmap_admin_settings($form, &$form_state) {
   }
 
   $form['initialization']['googlemap_api_key']['#title'] = t('Google Maps API Key');
-  $form['initialization']['googlemap_api_key']['#description'] = t('Your personal Googlemaps API key.  You must get this for each separate website at <a href="http://code.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html">Google Map API website</a>.');
+  $form['initialization']['googlemap_api_key']['#description'] = t('Your personal Googlemaps API key.  If you want to use an API key, you can get one at <a href="http://code.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html">Google Map API website</a>.');
 
   $form['initialization']['rebuild'] = array(
     '#type' => 'fieldset',