diff --git a/common/params.py b/common/params.py
index 22ee0aa55b..e2ef52fb74 100755
--- a/common/params.py
+++ b/common/params.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class UnknownKeyName(Exception):
 
 
 keys = {
-  "AccessToken": [TxType.PERSISTENT],
+  "AccessToken": [TxType.CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START],
   "AthenadPid": [TxType.PERSISTENT],
   "CalibrationParams": [TxType.PERSISTENT],
   "CarParams": [TxType.CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START, TxType.CLEAR_ON_PANDA_DISCONNECT],
diff --git a/common/tests/test_params.py b/common/tests/test_params.py
index 7e8d19ed67..b0c7af828d 100644
--- a/common/tests/test_params.py
+++ b/common/tests/test_params.py
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ class TestParams(unittest.TestCase):
 
   def test_params_two_things(self):
     self.params.put("DongleId", "bob")
-    self.params.put("AccessToken", "knope")
+    self.params.put("AthenadPid", "123")
     assert self.params.get("DongleId") == b"bob"
-    assert self.params.get("AccessToken") == b"knope"
+    assert self.params.get("AthenadPid") == b"123"
 
   def test_params_get_block(self):
     def _delayed_writer():
diff --git a/selfdrive/common/params.cc b/selfdrive/common/params.cc
index 79bc5d911f..9ef6609af7 100644
--- a/selfdrive/common/params.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/common/params.cc
@@ -292,9 +292,6 @@ int read_db_all(const char* params_path, std::map<std::string, std::string> *par
   while ((de = readdir(d))) {
     if (!isalnum(de->d_name[0])) continue;
     std::string key = std::string(de->d_name);
-
-    if (key == "AccessToken") continue;
-
     std::string value = util::read_file(util::string_format("%s/%s", key_path.c_str(), key.c_str()));
 
     (*params)[key] = value;
diff --git a/selfdrive/manager.py b/selfdrive/manager.py
index 4a63241dcd..51c7adfe68 100755
--- a/selfdrive/manager.py
+++ b/selfdrive/manager.py
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ def manager_init(should_register=True):
   if should_register:
     reg_res = register()
     if reg_res:
-      dongle_id, dongle_secret = reg_res
+      dongle_id = reg_res
     else:
       raise Exception("server registration failed")
   else:
diff --git a/selfdrive/registration.py b/selfdrive/registration.py
index 5b01d1446f..dbedcc9ebc 100644
--- a/selfdrive/registration.py
+++ b/selfdrive/registration.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def register():
   os.chmod(PERSIST+'/comma/', 0o755)
   os.chmod(PERSIST+'/comma/id_rsa', 0o744)
 
-  dongle_id, access_token = params.get("DongleId", encoding='utf8'), params.get("AccessToken", encoding='utf8')
+  dongle_id = params.get("DongleId", encoding='utf8')
   public_key = open(PERSIST+"/comma/id_rsa.pub").read()
 
   # create registration token
@@ -52,15 +52,14 @@ def register():
     resp = api_get("v2/pilotauth/", method='POST', timeout=15,
                    imei=get_imei(0), imei2=get_imei(1), serial=get_serial(), public_key=public_key, register_token=register_token)
     dongleauth = json.loads(resp.text)
-    dongle_id, access_token = dongleauth["dongle_id"], dongleauth["access_token"]
+    dongle_id = dongleauth["dongle_id"]
 
     params.put("DongleId", dongle_id)
-    params.put("AccessToken", access_token)
-    return dongle_id, access_token
+    return dongle_id
   except Exception:
     cloudlog.exception("failed to authenticate")
-    if dongle_id is not None and access_token is not None:
-      return dongle_id, access_token
+    if dongle_id is not None:
+      return dongle_id
     else:
       return None