diff --git a/rc/start.lua b/rc/start.lua
index 8a2897d..9178086 100644
--- a/rc/start.lua
+++ b/rc/start.lua
@@ -25,5 +25,4 @@ os.execute(table.concat(execute, ";"))
 -- Spawn various X programs
 xrun("polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1",
      "/usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1")
-xrun("pidgin", "pidgin -n")
 xrun("NetworkManager Applet", "nm-applet")
diff --git a/rc/tags.lua b/rc/tags.lua
index 20e9ff7..47a7d40 100644
--- a/rc/tags.lua
+++ b/rc/tags.lua
@@ -36,14 +36,6 @@ shifty.config.tags = {
       spawn = config.terminal,
       icon = tagicon("main"),
    },
-   im = {
-      position = 4,
-      mwfact = 0.2,
-      exclusive = true,
-      screen = math.min(screen.count(), 2),
-      icon = tagicon("im"),
-      nopopup = true,           -- don't give focus on creation
-   },
    spotify = {
       screen = 1,
       exclusive = true
@@ -60,10 +52,6 @@ shifty.config.apps = {
       match = { "emacs" },
       tag = "emacs",
    },
-   {
-      match = { class = { "Skype", "Pidgin" } },
-      tag = "im",
-   },
    {
       match = { class = { "Spotify" } },
       tag = "spotify"