diff --git a/oragono.motd b/oragono.motd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..72fbb721
--- /dev/null
+++ b/oragono.motd
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+
+      ▄▄▄   ▄▄▄·  ▄▄ •        ▐ ▄       
+▪     ▀▄ █·▐█ ▀█ ▐█ ▀ ▪▪     •█▌▐█▪     
+ ▄█▀▄ ▐▀▀▄ ▄█▀▀█ ▄█ ▀█▄ ▄█▀▄ ▐█▐▐▌ ▄█▀▄ 
+▐█▌.▐▌▐█•█▌▐█ ▪▐▌▐█▄▪▐█▐█▌.▐▌██▐█▌▐█▌.▐▌
+ ▀█▄▀▪.▀  ▀ ▀  ▀ ·▀▀▀▀  ▀█▄▀▪▀▀ █▪ ▀█▄▀▪
+
+This is the default Oragono MOTD.
+
diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index 3b82bcb6..0458c0ad 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ server:
     log: debug
 
     # motd filename
-    motd: ircd.motd
+    # if you change the motd, you should move it to ircd.motd
+    motd: oragono.motd
 
 # ircd operators
 operator: