diff --git a/bridge/zulip/zulip.go b/bridge/zulip/zulip.go
index 77bb7e7e..cdf433af 100644
--- a/bridge/zulip/zulip.go
+++ b/bridge/zulip/zulip.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -18,12 +19,11 @@ type Bzulip struct {
 	bot     *gzb.Bot
 	streams map[int]string
 	*bridge.Config
-	channelToTopic map[string]string
 	sync.RWMutex
 }
 
 func New(cfg *bridge.Config) bridge.Bridger {
-	return &Bzulip{Config: cfg, streams: make(map[int]string), channelToTopic: make(map[string]string)}
+	return &Bzulip{Config: cfg, streams: make(map[int]string)}
 }
 
 func (b *Bzulip) Connect() error {
@@ -48,9 +48,6 @@ func (b *Bzulip) Disconnect() error {
 }
 
 func (b *Bzulip) JoinChannel(channel config.ChannelInfo) error {
-	b.Lock()
-	defer b.Unlock()
-	b.channelToTopic[channel.Name] = channel.Options.Topic
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +135,14 @@ func (b *Bzulip) handleQueue() error {
 			if m.SenderEmail == b.GetString("login") {
 				continue
 			}
-			rmsg := config.Message{Username: m.SenderFullName, Text: m.Content, Channel: b.getChannel(m.StreamID), Account: b.Account, UserID: strconv.Itoa(m.SenderID), Avatar: m.AvatarURL}
+			rmsg := config.Message{
+				Username: m.SenderFullName,
+				Text:     m.Content,
+				Channel:  b.getChannel(m.StreamID) + "/topic:" + m.Subject,
+				Account:  b.Account,
+				UserID:   strconv.Itoa(m.SenderID),
+				Avatar:   m.AvatarURL,
+			}
 			b.Log.Debugf("<= Sending message from %s on %s to gateway", rmsg.Username, b.Account)
 			b.Log.Debugf("<= Message is %#v", rmsg)
 			b.Remote <- rmsg
@@ -149,12 +153,11 @@ func (b *Bzulip) handleQueue() error {
 }
 
 func (b *Bzulip) sendMessage(msg config.Message) (string, error) {
-	topic := "matterbridge"
-	if b.GetString("topic") != "" {
-		topic = b.GetString("topic")
-	}
-	if res := b.getTopic(msg.Channel); res != "" {
-		topic = res
+	topic := ""
+	if strings.Contains(msg.Channel, "/topic:") {
+		res := strings.Split(msg.Channel, "/topic:")
+		topic = res[1]
+		msg.Channel = res[0]
 	}
 	m := gzb.Message{
 		Stream:  msg.Channel,
@@ -202,9 +205,3 @@ func (b *Bzulip) handleUploadFile(msg *config.Message) (string, error) {
 	}
 	return "", nil
 }
-
-func (b *Bzulip) getTopic(channel string) string {
-	b.RLock()
-	defer b.RUnlock()
-	return b.channelToTopic[channel]
-}
diff --git a/gateway/gateway.go b/gateway/gateway.go
index be45086b..82be2a98 100644
--- a/gateway/gateway.go
+++ b/gateway/gateway.go
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ func (gw *Gateway) mapChannelConfig(cfg []config.Bridge, direction string) {
 			gw.logger.Errorf("Mattermost channels do not start with a #: remove the # in %s", br.Channel)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(br.Account, "zulip.") && !strings.Contains(br.Channel, "/topic:") {
+			gw.logger.Errorf("Breaking change, since matterbridge 1.14.0 zulip channels need to specify the topic with channel/topic:mytopic in %s of %s", br.Channel, br.Account)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
 		ID := br.Channel + br.Account
 		if _, ok := gw.Channels[ID]; !ok {
 			channel := &config.ChannelInfo{
diff --git a/matterbridge.toml.sample b/matterbridge.toml.sample
index 1c517a55..8fbbfe0d 100644
--- a/matterbridge.toml.sample
+++ b/matterbridge.toml.sample
@@ -1363,12 +1363,6 @@ Login="yourbot-bot@yourserver.zulipchat.com"
 #REQUIRED 
 Server="https://yourserver.zulipchat.com"
 
-#Topic of the messages matterbridge will use
-#OPTIONAL (default "matterbridge")
-#You can specify a specific topic for each channel using [gateway.inout.options]
-#See more information below at the gateway configuration
-Topic="matterbridge"
-
 ## RELOADABLE SETTINGS
 ## Settings below can be reloaded by editing the file
 
@@ -1608,7 +1602,7 @@ enable=true
     #              if you specify an empty string bridge will list all the possibilities
     #            - "Group Name" if you specify a group name the bridge will hint its JID to specify
     #              as group names might change in time and contain weird emoticons
-    # zulip      - stream (without the #)
+    # zulip      - stream/topic:topicname (without the #)
     #                  
     # REQUIRED
     channel="#testing"
@@ -1650,10 +1644,7 @@ enable=true
 
     [[gateway.inout]]
     account="zulip.streamchat"
-    channel="general"
-        #OPTIONAL - topic only works for zulip
-        [gateway.inout.options]
-        topic="topic1"
+    channel="general/topic:mytopic"
 
     #API example
     #[[gateway.inout]]