diff --git a/cmd/panel/notifier.go b/cmd/panel/notifier.go
index f816ed5..029f9c1 100644
--- a/cmd/panel/notifier.go
+++ b/cmd/panel/notifier.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"log"
 
 	"github.com/mixeme/selfpost/internal/dnscheck"
 	"github.com/mixeme/selfpost/internal/health"
@@ -19,6 +20,15 @@ func runNotifier(ctx context.Context, cfg config, st *store.Store) error {
 	ms := newMailStack(cfg, st)
 	dns := dnscheck.New(cfg.dnsResolvers)
 
+	// OpenDKIM's tables are rebuilt when a domain is added or deleted. On the
+	// first start of a version that signs the server's own name they do not
+	// have its line yet. A failure here costs the signature, not the message.
+	if rebuilt, err := ms.Domains.EnsureServerSigned(); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("notifier: sign as %s: %v", cfg.hostname, err)
+	} else if rebuilt {
+		log.Printf("notifier: OpenDKIM now signs mail of %s", cfg.hostname)
+	}
+
 	n := notify.New(st, notify.Checks{
 		Domain: func(d store.Domain) (dnscheck.Domain, error) {
 			rec, err := ms.Domains.DKIMRecord(d)
diff --git a/internal/domain/opendkim.go b/internal/domain/opendkim.go
index fcb9177..a820413 100644
--- a/internal/domain/opendkim.go
+++ b/internal/domain/opendkim.go
@@ -163,6 +163,24 @@ func (o *OpenDKIM) Rebuild(domains []SigningDomain) error {
 	return o.reload()
 }
 
+// signs reports whether the SigningTable on disk has a line for name. A table
+// that does not exist yet signs nothing.
+func (o *OpenDKIM) signs(name string) (bool, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(o.signingTablePath)
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("read SigningTable: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(data), "\n") {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(line, "*@"+name+" ") {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return false, nil
+}
+
 // Reload asks OpenDKIM to re-read its tables without regenerating them. It
 // backs the panel's manual reload button (architecture.md § Panel HTTP
 // surface).
diff --git a/internal/domain/servermail_test.go b/internal/domain/servermail_test.go
index 6ffd315..f546514 100644
--- a/internal/domain/servermail_test.go
+++ b/internal/domain/servermail_test.go
@@ -94,6 +94,43 @@ func TestServerNameThatIsAlsoADomain(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// An installation upgraded to a version that signs the server's own name has
+// tables without its line until something rebuilds them. The start does, once.
+func TestEnsureServerSignedRebuildsOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, odk := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
+	if _, err := svc.Add("example.com"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	reloads := 0
+	odk.reload = func() error { reloads++; return nil }
+
+	// The tables as the earlier version left them; now the name is known.
+	svc.SetServerName("mail.example.org")
+	if rebuilt, err := svc.EnsureServerSigned(); err != nil || !rebuilt {
+		t.Fatalf("first start: rebuilt = %v, %v; want a rebuild", rebuilt, err)
+	}
+	if _, st := readTables(t, odk); !strings.Contains(st, "*@mail.example.org mail.example.org\n") || !strings.Contains(st, "*@example.com ") {
+		t.Errorf("SigningTable after the rebuild:\n%s", st)
+	}
+	if rebuilt, err := svc.EnsureServerSigned(); err != nil || rebuilt {
+		t.Errorf("second start: rebuilt = %v, %v; want nothing to do", rebuilt, err)
+	}
+	if reloads != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("OpenDKIM was reloaded %d times, want once", reloads)
+	}
+
+	// A name that only begins like the server's is not it.
+	other, otherOdk := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
+	other.SetServerName("mail.example.org.evil.example")
+	if _, err := other.EnsureServerSigned(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	other.SetServerName("mail.example.org")
+	if signed, err := otherOdk.signs("mail.example.org"); err != nil || signed {
+		t.Errorf("a longer name was taken for the server's: %v, %v", signed, err)
+	}
+}
+
 // Without a hostname nothing is added and nothing is signed for it.
 func TestNoServerName(t *testing.T) {
 	svc, odk := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
diff --git a/internal/domain/service.go b/internal/domain/service.go
index acc778e..77727b7 100644
--- a/internal/domain/service.go
+++ b/internal/domain/service.go
@@ -83,6 +83,25 @@ func (s *Service) ServerMail() (ServerMail, error) {
 	return ServerMail{Name: s.serverName, Selector: selector, Record: rec}, nil
 }
 
+// EnsureServerSigned makes sure OpenDKIM's tables have the line for the
+// server's own name, rebuilding them if they do not. The tables are otherwise
+// rebuilt only when a domain is added or deleted, so an installation that was
+// upgraded to a version with notifications would go on sending them unsigned
+// until then. It reports whether it had to rebuild.
+func (s *Service) EnsureServerSigned() (bool, error) {
+	if s.serverName == "" {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	signed, err := s.odk.signs(s.serverName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if signed {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	return true, s.resync()
+}
+
 // serverSelector is the selector the server's own name is signed with: that of
 // the sending domain of the same name if there is one, the default otherwise.
 func (s *Service) serverSelector() (string, error) {