diff --git a/data/Dockerfiles/watchdog/watchdog.sh b/data/Dockerfiles/watchdog/watchdog.sh
index 1e0d6813..b95bf84b 100755
--- a/data/Dockerfiles/watchdog/watchdog.sh
+++ b/data/Dockerfiles/watchdog/watchdog.sh
@@ -770,7 +770,9 @@ olefy_checks() {
 }
 
 # Notify about start
-notify_error "watchdog-mailcow" "Watchdog started monitoring mailcow."
+if [[ ${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START} =~ ^([yY][eE][sS]|[yY])+$ ]]; then
+  notify_error "watchdog-mailcow" "Watchdog started monitoring mailcow."
+fi
 
 # Create watchdog agents
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 26bec79e..d8f0db78 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ services:
         - USE_WATCHDOG=${USE_WATCHDOG:-n}
         - WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_EMAIL=${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_EMAIL:-}
         - WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_BAN=${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_BAN:-y}
+        - WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START=${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START:-y}
         - WATCHDOG_SUBJECT=${WATCHDOG_SUBJECT:-Watchdog ALERT}
         - WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK=${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK:-}
         - WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK_BODY=${WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK_BODY:-}
diff --git a/generate_config.sh b/generate_config.sh
index 72cbf083..3b292893 100755
--- a/generate_config.sh
+++ b/generate_config.sh
@@ -408,6 +408,9 @@ USE_WATCHDOG=y
 # Notify about banned IP (includes whois lookup)
 WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_BAN=n
 
+# Send a notification when the watchdog is started.
+WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START=y
+
 # Subject for watchdog mails. Defaults to "Watchdog ALERT" followed by the error message.
 #WATCHDOG_SUBJECT=
 
diff --git a/update.sh b/update.sh
index 313d41fb..47ae1f8b 100755
--- a/update.sh
+++ b/update.sh
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ CONFIG_ARRAY=(
   "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK"
   "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK_BODY"
   "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_BAN"
+  "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START"
   "WATCHDOG_EXTERNAL_CHECKS"
   "WATCHDOG_SUBJECT"
   "SKIP_CLAMD"
@@ -646,6 +647,12 @@ for option in ${CONFIG_ARRAY[@]}; do
       echo '# Notify about banned IP. Includes whois lookup.' >> mailcow.conf
       echo "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_BAN=y" >> mailcow.conf
     fi
+  elif [[ ${option} == "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START" ]]; then
+    if ! grep -q ${option} mailcow.conf; then
+      echo "Adding new option \"${option}\" to mailcow.conf"
+      echo '# Send a notification when the watchdog is started.' >> mailcow.conf
+      echo "WATCHDOG_NOTIFY_START=y" >> mailcow.conf
+    fi
   elif [[ ${option} == "WATCHDOG_SUBJECT" ]]; then
     if ! grep -q ${option} mailcow.conf; then
       echo "Adding new option \"${option}\" to mailcow.conf"