diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Helper/Data.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Helper/Data.php
index 007bbda22..a476a671f 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Helper/Data.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Helper/Data.php
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 class Mage_Checkout_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract
 {
     public const XML_PATH_GUEST_CHECKOUT = 'checkout/options/guest_checkout';
+    public const XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER = 'checkout/options/redirect_register';
+
+    /** @deprecated 24.11.0 use XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER instead */
     public const XML_PATH_CUSTOMER_MUST_BE_LOGGED = 'checkout/options/customer_must_be_logged';
 
     protected $_moduleName = 'Mage_Checkout';
@@ -330,14 +333,21 @@ public function isContextCheckout()
         return (Mage::app()->getRequest()->getParam('context') == 'checkout');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Check if we should redirect the user to a separate register step during checkout
+     */
+    public function isRedirectRegisterStep(): bool
+    {
+        return Mage::getStoreConfigFlag(self::XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Check if user must be logged during checkout process
-     *
-     * @return bool
+     * @deprecated 24.11.0 use isRedirectRegisterStep() instead
      */
-    public function isCustomerMustBeLogged()
+    public function isCustomerMustBeLogged(): bool
     {
-        return Mage::getStoreConfigFlag(self::XML_PATH_CUSTOMER_MUST_BE_LOGGED);
+        return $this->isRedirectRegisterStep();
     }
 
     public function isPersistentEnabled(): bool
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Model/Type/Onepage.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Model/Type/Onepage.php
index 36d795fa4..86520354e 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Model/Type/Onepage.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/Model/Type/Onepage.php
@@ -190,17 +190,6 @@ public function getCheckoutMethod()
         return $this->getQuote()->getCheckoutMethod();
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Get quote checkout method
-     *
-     * @deprecated since 1.4.0.1
-     * @return string
-     */
-    public function getCheckoutMehod()
-    {
-        return $this->getCheckoutMethod();
-    }
-
     /**
      * Specify checkout method
      *
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/controllers/OnepageController.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/controllers/OnepageController.php
index 1193aad01..3c80324c5 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/controllers/OnepageController.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/controllers/OnepageController.php
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ protected function _canShowForUnregisteredUsers()
         return Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->isLoggedIn()
             || $this->getRequest()->getActionName() == 'index'
             || Mage::helper('checkout')->isAllowedGuestCheckout($this->getOnepage()->getQuote())
-            || !Mage::helper('checkout')->isCustomerMustBeLogged();
+            || !Mage::helper('checkout')->isRedirectRegisterStep();
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/etc/system.xml b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/etc/system.xml
index 11ea7f132..7039a0e8c 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/etc/system.xml
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/etc/system.xml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  * @package    Mage_Checkout
  * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2006-2020 Magento, Inc. (https://magento.com)
  * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2017-2023 The OpenMage Contributors (https://openmage.org)
+ * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2024 Maho (https://mahocommerce.com)
  * @license    https://opensource.org/licenses/afl-3.0.php Academic Free License (AFL 3.0)
  */
 -->
@@ -45,16 +46,16 @@
                             <show_in_website>1</show_in_website>
                             <show_in_store>1</show_in_store>
                         </guest_checkout>
-                        <customer_must_be_logged translate="label">
-                            <label>Require Customer To Be Logged In To Checkout</label>
+                        <redirect_register translate="label">
+                            <label>Use Separate Register Step</label>
+                            <comment><![CDATA["If enabled, customers choosing to register during checkout will be redirected to the customer/account/create page.<br />Note: If email confirmation is required, users won't be able to complete the order before confirming their email."]]></comment>
                             <frontend_type>select</frontend_type>
                             <source_model>adminhtml/system_config_source_yesno</source_model>
-                            <depends><guest_checkout>0</guest_checkout></depends>
                             <sort_order>15</sort_order>
                             <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                             <show_in_website>1</show_in_website>
-                            <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
-                        </customer_must_be_logged>
+                            <show_in_store>1</show_in_store>
+                        </redirect_register>
                         <enable_agreements translate="label">
                             <label>Enable Terms and Conditions</label>
                             <frontend_type>select</frontend_type>
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/sql/maho_setup/maho-24.10.0.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/sql/maho_setup/maho-24.10.0.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..374624bb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Checkout/sql/maho_setup/maho-24.10.0.php
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Maho
+ *
+ * @category   Mage
+ * @package    Mage_Core
+ * @copyright  @copyright  Copyright (c) 2024 Maho (https://mahocommerce.com)
+ * @license    https://opensource.org/licenses/osl-3.0.php  Open Software License (OSL 3.0)
+ */
+
+
+const XML_PATH_GUEST_CHECKOUT          = 'checkout/options/guest_checkout';
+const XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER       = 'checkout/options/redirect_register';
+const XML_PATH_CUSTOMER_MUST_BE_LOGGED = 'checkout/options/customer_must_be_logged';
+
+/** @var Mage_Checkout_Model_Resource_Setup $installer */
+$installer = $this;
+
+$defaultConfigValue = false;
+foreach (Mage::app()->getWebsites(true) as $website) {
+    $configValue = !$website->getConfig(XML_PATH_GUEST_CHECKOUT) && $website->getConfig(XML_PATH_CUSTOMER_MUST_BE_LOGGED);
+    if ($website->getId() === 0) {
+        $defaultConfigValue = $configValue;
+        $this->setConfigData(XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER, $configValue);
+    } elseif ($configValue !== $defaultConfigValue) {
+        $this->setConfigData(XML_PATH_REDIRECT_REGISTER, true, 'websites', $website->getId());
+    }
+}
+
+$installer->endSetup();
diff --git a/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/checkout/onepage/login.phtml b/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/checkout/onepage/login.phtml
index 3116d5d59..c4cded8dc 100644
--- a/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/checkout/onepage/login.phtml
+++ b/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/checkout/onepage/login.phtml
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 ?>
 <?php
 $isRegistrationAllowed = $this->helper('customer')->isRegistrationAllowed();
+$isRedirectRegisterStep = $this->helper('checkout')->isRedirectRegisterStep();
 $isAllowedGuestCheckout = $this->helper('checkout')->isAllowedGuestCheckout($this->getQuote());
-$isCustomerMustBeLogged = $this->helper('checkout')->isCustomerMustBeLogged();
 $isPersistentEnabled = $this->helper('checkout')->isPersistentEnabled();
 ?>
 <?php /* Extensions placeholder */ ?>
@@ -59,17 +59,9 @@ $isPersistentEnabled = $this->helper('checkout')->isPersistentEnabled();
 
         <div class="buttons-set">
             <p class="required">&nbsp;</p>
-            <?php if ($isAllowedGuestCheckout): ?>
-                <button id="onepage-guest-register-button" type="button" class="button" onclick="checkout.setMethod();"><?= $this->__('Continue') ?></button>
-            <?php elseif ($isCustomerMustBeLogged): ?>
-                <button id="onepage-guest-register-button" type="button" class="button" onclick="window.location='<?= $this->helper('checkout/url')->getRegistrationUrl();?>'"><?= $this->__('Register') ?></button>
-            <?php elseif ($isPersistentEnabled): ?>
-                <form action="<?= $this->getUrl('persistent/index/saveMethod') ?>">
-                    <button id="onepage-guest-register-button" type="submit" class="button"><?= $this->__('Register') ?></button>
-                </form>
-            <?php else: ?>
-                <button id="onepage-guest-register-button" type="button" class="button" onclick="checkout.setMethod();"><?= $this->__('Register') ?></button>
-            <?php endif ?>
+            <button id="onepage-guest-register-button" type="button" class="button">
+                <?= $this->__($isAllowedGuestCheckout ? 'Continue' : 'Register') ?>
+            </button>
         </div>
     </div>
     <?php endif ?>
@@ -105,13 +97,14 @@ $isPersistentEnabled = $this->helper('checkout')->isPersistentEnabled();
         </fieldset>
         </form>
         <div class="buttons-set">
-            <button type="submit" class="button" onclick="onepageLogin(this)"><?= $this->__('Login') ?></button>
+            <button id="onepage-login-button" type="submit" class="button"><?= $this->__('Login') ?></button>
         </div>
     </div>
 </div>
 <?php $registerParam = $this->getRequest()->getParam('register') ?>
 <script type="text/javascript">
     const loginForm = new VarienForm('login-form', true);
+
     document.getElementById('login-email').addEventListener('keypress', bindLoginPost);
     document.getElementById('login-password').addEventListener('keypress', bindLoginPost);
     function bindLoginPost(evt) {
@@ -119,13 +112,30 @@ $isPersistentEnabled = $this->helper('checkout')->isPersistentEnabled();
             loginForm.submit();
         }
     }
-    function onepageLogin(button) {
+
+    document.getElementById('onepage-login-button').addEventListener('click', onepageLogin);
+    function onepageLogin() {
         if(loginForm.validator && loginForm.validator.validate()){
-            button.disabled = true;
+            this.disabled = true;
             loginForm.submit();
         }
     }
 
+    document.getElementById('onepage-guest-register-button').addEventListener('click', onepageRegisterOrGuest);
+    function onepageRegisterOrGuest() {
+        if (document.getElementById('login:register').checked) {
+            <?php if ($isRedirectRegisterStep): ?>
+                window.location = '<?= $this->quoteEscape($this->helper('checkout/url')->getRegistrationUrl()) ?>';
+            <?php elseif($isPersistentEnabled): ?>
+                window.location = '<?= $this->quoteEscape($this->getUrl('persistent/index/saveMethod')) ?>';
+            <?php else: ?>
+                checkout.setMethod();
+            <?php endif; ?>
+        } else if(document.getElementById('login:guest').checked) {
+            checkout.setMethod();
+        }
+    }
+
     <?php if ($registerParam || $registerParam === ''): ?>
         document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
             const registerCheckbox = document.getElementById('login:register');
diff --git a/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Checkout.csv b/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Checkout.csv
index c01084aa4..46c37a462 100644
--- a/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Checkout.csv
+++ b/app/locale/en_US/Mage_Checkout.csv
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@
 "Grouped Product Image","Grouped Product Image"
 "HTML","HTML"
 "ID","ID"
+"If enabled, customers choosing to register during checkout will be redirected to the customer/account/create page.<br />Note: If email confirmation is required, users won't be able to complete the order before confirming their email.","If enabled, customers choosing to register during checkout will be redirected to the customer/account/create page.<br />Note: If email confirmation is required, users won't be able to complete the order before confirming their email."
 "Incl. Tax","Incl. Tax"
 "Invalid checkout type.","Invalid checkout type."
 "Invalid data.","Invalid data."
@@ -257,7 +258,6 @@
 "Remove item","Remove item"
 "Remove product from shopping cart","Remove product from shopping cart"
 "Remove product(s) from shopping cart","Remove product(s) from shopping cart"
-"Require Customer To Be Logged In To Checkout","Require Customer To Be Logged In To Checkout"
 "Retrieve information about shopping cart","Retrieve information about shopping cart"
 "Review Order","Review Order"
 "Review Order - %s","Review Order - %s"
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@
 "Update product quantities in shopping cart","Update product quantities in shopping cart"
 "Update product(s) quantities in shopping cart","Update product(s) quantities in shopping cart"
 "Use Billing Address","Use Billing Address"
+"Use Separate Register Step","Use Separate Register Step"
 "VAT Number","VAT Number"
 "View Shopping Cart","View Shopping Cart"
 "We are processing your order and you will soon receive an email with details of the order. Once the order has shipped you will receive another email with a link to track its progress.","We are processing your order and you will soon receive an email with details of the order. Once the order has shipped you will receive another email with a link to track its progress."