diff --git a/src/service/services.rs b/src/service/services.rs
index 0b63a5ca..ea81f434 100644
--- a/src/service/services.rs
+++ b/src/service/services.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,14 @@ impl Services {
 			.start()
 			.await?;
 
+		// set the server user as online
+		if self.server.config.allow_local_presence {
+			_ = self
+				.presence
+				.ping_presence(&self.globals.server_user, &ruma::presence::PresenceState::Online)
+				.await;
+		}
+
 		debug_info!("Services startup complete.");
 		Ok(Arc::clone(self))
 	}
@@ -130,6 +138,14 @@ impl Services {
 	pub async fn stop(&self) {
 		info!("Shutting down services...");
 
+		// set the server user as offline
+		if self.server.config.allow_local_presence {
+			_ = self
+				.presence
+				.ping_presence(&self.globals.server_user, &ruma::presence::PresenceState::Offline)
+				.await;
+		}
+
 		self.interrupt();
 		if let Some(manager) = self.manager.lock().await.as_ref() {
 			manager.stop().await;