diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ee4f26be5..eaad02c99 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 ## Contributing code the right way
 
-TLDR: it works like Github.
+TLDR: it works *almost* like Github.
+
+Due to spam, new Gitlab users are set to [external](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/admin_area/external_users.html). In order to do anything, you'll need to ask for your account to be promoted. Sorry for the inconvenience.
 
 1. Register on the [development website](https://dev.tt-rss.org);
-2. Fork the repository you're interested in;
-3. Do the needful;
-4. Verify that your changes pass through PHPStan (see below);
-4. File a PR against master branch;
+2. Post on the forums asking for your account to be promoted;
+3. Fork the repository you're interested in;
+4. Do the needful;
+5. Verify that your changes pass through PHPStan (see below);
+6. File a PR against master branch;
 
 If you have any other questions, see this [forum thread](https://discourse.tt-rss.org/t/how-to-contribute-code-via-pull-requests-on-git-tt-rss-org/1850).