diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7d904f2..de0ecc2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Set secure MariaDB passwords in `.env`. Then, set at least these values in
 
 ```json
 {
-    "abbr": "api",
+    "abbr": "vtc",
     "name": "Drivers Hub",
     "domain": "hub.example.com",
     "prefix": "/api",
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ from `config_sample.json`. Restart the backend after you change
 Use the same database password in `.env` and `config/config.json`.
 Set `domain` to the public host name of the backend. Do not include a protocol or
 path.
-Set `prefix` to `/{abbr}` when you use the official frontend. The
-`client-config` plugin uses this relation to create frontend API URLs.
+Set `abbr` to a short identifier for the VTC. The Docker frontend deployment
+derives the API base URL from its `VITE_CONFIG_URL`, so `abbr` does not have to
+match `prefix`.
 Create an hCaptcha site for the public frontend domain. Set its secret in the
 `captcha.secret` value. Set the related public site key as
 `VITE_HCAPTCHA_SITEKEY` in the frontend deployment.
@@ -86,10 +87,10 @@ backend expects the singular names shown above. This deployment configuration
 enables all built-in plugins by default. Keep `client-config` separate in
 `external_plugins`.
 
-The deployment patch synchronizes the plugin list from `config/config.json` to
-the stored frontend configuration when the backend starts. Other frontend
-settings in MariaDB stay unchanged. Restart the backend after you enable or
-disable a plugin.
+The deployment patch synchronizes `abbr` and the plugin list from
+`config/config.json` to the stored frontend configuration when the backend
+starts. Other frontend settings in MariaDB stay unchanged. Restart the backend
+after you change `abbr` or enable or disable a plugin.
 
 ## Configure external connections
 
diff --git a/docker/client-config.patch b/docker/client-config.patch
index 3d02d03..7717f28 100644
--- a/docker/client-config.patch
+++ b/docker/client-config.patch
@@ -1,26 +1,28 @@
 --- a/src/external_plugins/client-config.py
 +++ b/src/external_plugins/client-config.py
 @@ -17,0 +18,7 @@
-+def normalize_client_config(config, plugins):
++def normalize_client_config(config, plugins, abbr):
 +    if not config["api_host"].startswith(("http://", "https://")):
 +        config["api_host"] = f"https://{config['api_host']}"
++    config["abbr"] = abbr
 +    config["plugins"] = plugins
 +    return config
 +
 +
 @@ -24 +31 @@
 -        return json.loads(config)
-+        return normalize_client_config(json.loads(config), app.config.plugins)
++        return normalize_client_config(json.loads(config), app.config.plugins, app.config.abbr)
 @@ -37 +44 @@
 -    config = json.loads(t[0][0])
-+    config = normalize_client_config(json.loads(t[0][0]), app.config.plugins)
++    config = normalize_client_config(json.loads(t[0][0]), app.config.plugins, app.config.abbr)
 @@ -298 +305 @@
 -            "api_host": config["domain"],
 +            "api_host": f"https://{config['domain']}",
 @@ -306,0 +314,6 @@
 +    else:
 +        frontend_conf = json.loads(t[0][2])
-+        if frontend_conf.get("plugins") != config["plugins"]:
++        if frontend_conf.get("abbr") != config["abbr"] or frontend_conf.get("plugins") != config["plugins"]:
++            frontend_conf["abbr"] = config["abbr"]
 +            frontend_conf["plugins"] = config["plugins"]
 +            frontend_conf = convertQuotation(json.dumps(frontend_conf))
 +            cur.execute(f"UPDATE settings SET sval = '{frontend_conf}' WHERE skey = 'client-config/meta'")