diff --git a/Web/Models/Entities/User.php b/Web/Models/Entities/User.php
index b6a5a824..6913855d 100644
--- a/Web/Models/Entities/User.php
+++ b/Web/Models/Entities/User.php
@@ -662,9 +662,11 @@ class User extends RowModel
         $this->stateChanges("left_menu", $mask);
     }
     
-    function setShortCode(?string $code = NULL): ?bool
+    function setShortCode(?string $code = NULL, bool $force = false): ?bool
     {
         if(!is_null($code)) {
+            if(strlen($code) < OPENVK_ROOT_CONF["openvk"]["preferences"]["shortcodes"]["minLength"] && !$force)
+                return false;
             if(!preg_match("%^[a-z][a-z0-9\\.\\_]{0,30}[a-z0-9]$%", $code))
                 return false;
             if(in_array($code, OPENVK_ROOT_CONF["openvk"]["preferences"]["shortcodes"]["forbiddenNames"]))
@@ -672,9 +674,9 @@ class User extends RowModel
             if(\Chandler\MVC\Routing\Router::i()->getMatchingRoute("/$code")[0]->presenter !== "UnknownTextRouteStrategy")
                 return false;
 	    
-	    $pClub = DatabaseConnection::i()->getContext()->table("groups")->where("shortcode", $code)->fetch();
-            if(!is_null($pClub))
-                return false;
+            $pClub = DatabaseConnection::i()->getContext()->table("groups")->where("shortcode", $code)->fetch();
+                if(!is_null($pClub))
+                    return false;
         }
         
         $this->stateChanges("shortcode", $code);
diff --git a/openvk-example.yml b/openvk-example.yml
index b644d64d..a39dda14 100644
--- a/openvk-example.yml
+++ b/openvk-example.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ openvk:
             disableLargeUploads: false
             mode: "basic"
         shortcodes:
+            minLength: 3 # won't affect existing short urls or the ones set via admin panel
             forbiddenNames:
                 - "index.php"
         security: