diff --git a/dmoj/settings.py b/dmoj/settings.py
index 47abcb8..dea5179 100644
--- a/dmoj/settings.py
+++ b/dmoj/settings.py
@@ -381,6 +381,7 @@ BRIDGED_JUDGE_ADDRESS = [("localhost", 9999)]
 BRIDGED_JUDGE_PROXIES = None
 BRIDGED_DJANGO_ADDRESS = [("localhost", 9998)]
 BRIDGED_DJANGO_CONNECT = None
+BRIDGED_AUTO_CREATE_JUDGE = False
 
 # Event Server configuration
 EVENT_DAEMON_USE = False
diff --git a/judge/bridge/judge_handler.py b/judge/bridge/judge_handler.py
index 1efd45a..5bfda23 100644
--- a/judge/bridge/judge_handler.py
+++ b/judge/bridge/judge_handler.py
@@ -123,11 +123,21 @@ class JudgeHandler(ZlibPacketHandler):
 
     def _authenticate(self, id, key):
         try:
-            judge = Judge.objects.get(name=id, is_blocked=False)
+            judge = Judge.objects.get(name=id)
         except Judge.DoesNotExist:
-            result = False
+            if settings.BRIDGED_AUTO_CREATE_JUDGE:
+                judge = Judge()
+                judge.name = id
+                judge.auth_key = key
+                judge.save()
+                result = True
+            else:
+                result = False
         else:
-            result = hmac.compare_digest(judge.auth_key, key)
+            if judge.is_blocked:
+                result = False
+            else:
+                result = hmac.compare_digest(judge.auth_key, key)
 
         if not result:
             json_log.warning(
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 637c646..53228e7 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pyotp
 qrcode[pil]
 jsonfield @ git+https://github.com/DMOJ/jsonfield.git
 pymoss
-packaging<23
+packaging<22
 celery
 ansi2html @ git+https://github.com/DMOJ/ansi2html.git
 sqlparse