diff --git a/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb b/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
index 6d6d4e5..7f1154d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ class RegistrationsController < Devise::RegistrationsController
 
   protected
 
+  def build_resource(hash = {})
+    super
+    # Skip the email confirmation step when the admin has opted out of it via
+    # config.skip_email_confirmation in application.rb.  The account becomes
+    # active immediately so the user can sign in right after registering.
+    resource.skip_confirmation! if Rails.application.config.skip_email_confirmation
+  end
+
   def update_resource(resource, params)
     # Based on update_with_password()
     if params[:password].blank?
diff --git a/app/models/unit.rb b/app/models/unit.rb
index 18ef123..6febe7e 100644
--- a/app/models/unit.rb
+++ b/app/models/unit.rb
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ class Unit < ApplicationRecord
     errors.add(:base, :multilevel_nesting) if base.base_id?
   end
   validates :symbol, presence: true, uniqueness: {scope: :user_id},
-    length: {maximum: type_for_attribute(:symbol).limit}
-  validates :description, length: {maximum: type_for_attribute(:description).limit}
+    length: {maximum: type_for_attribute(:symbol).limit || Float::INFINITY}
+  validates :description, length: {maximum: type_for_attribute(:description).limit || Float::INFINITY}
   validates :multiplier, numericality: {equal_to: 1}, unless: :base
   validates :multiplier, numericality: {greater_than: 0, precision: true, scale: true}, if: :base
 
diff --git a/config/application.rb.dist b/config/application.rb.dist
index f1be478..a097379 100644
--- a/config/application.rb.dist
+++ b/config/application.rb.dist
@@ -54,5 +54,12 @@ module FixinMe
 
     # Sender address of account registration-related messages
     Devise.mailer_sender = 'noreply@localhost'
+
+    # When set to true, new user registrations are automatically confirmed
+    # without requiring email verification, so accounts become active
+    # immediately upon sign-up.  Intended for installations where outgoing
+    # email is not configured, or for development / testing environments.
+    # Defaults to false (email confirmation is required).
+    # config.skip_email_confirmation = true
   end
 end