diff --git a/src/api/admin.rs b/src/api/admin.rs
index 05fd028..9cab504 100644
--- a/src/api/admin.rs
+++ b/src/api/admin.rs
@@ -900,6 +900,17 @@ pub async fn admin_config_put(
     // the next request); any restart-required field is persisted + flagged so the
     // operator applies it with a graceful restart.
     if any_restart {
+        // In `auto` mode, self-restart shortly AFTER responding so the persisted change
+        // takes effect (systemd `Restart=always` brings us back). The console warns the
+        // operator before saving in auto mode; `manual` just flags restart_pending.
+        if state.cfg().console.restart_apply_mode == crate::config::RestartApplyMode::Auto {
+            let shutdown = state.shutdown.clone();
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(750)).await;
+                tracing::info!("config auto-apply: self-restart to apply a restart-required change");
+                shutdown.notify_one();
+            });
+        }
         Ok(Json(PutConfigResponse {
             applied: "restart-required".into(),
             restart_pending: true,
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 44b71b4..03fb4d2 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -171,6 +171,32 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub messaging: MessagingConfig,
     pub premium: PremiumConfig,
     pub feed: FeedConfig,
+    pub console: ConsoleConfig,
+}
+
+/// How a restart-required config change is applied.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum RestartApplyMode {
+    /// Persist + flag; the operator applies it with a graceful restart.
+    Manual,
+    /// The instance self-restarts after saving (the console warns first). Requires the
+    /// service to be brought back on exit (systemd `Restart=always`).
+    Auto,
+}
+
+impl RestartApplyMode {
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            RestartApplyMode::Manual => "manual",
+            RestartApplyMode::Auto => "auto",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Operator-console preferences (runtime-safe, DB-overridable via /admin/config).
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ConsoleConfig {
+    pub restart_apply_mode: RestartApplyMode,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -912,6 +938,12 @@ impl Config {
                 allowlist_npubs: env_list("FEED_ALLOWLIST_NPUBS"),
                 extra_relays: env_list("FEED_EXTRA_RELAYS"),
             },
+            console: ConsoleConfig {
+                restart_apply_mode: match env_or("RESTART_APPLY_MODE", "manual").as_str() {
+                    "auto" => RestartApplyMode::Auto,
+                    _ => RestartApplyMode::Manual,
+                },
+            },
         };
 
         cfg.validate()?;
@@ -1502,6 +1534,9 @@ mod tests {
                 allowlist_npubs: Vec::new(),
                 extra_relays: Vec::new(),
             },
+            console: ConsoleConfig {
+                restart_apply_mode: RestartApplyMode::Manual,
+            },
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/config_overlay.rs b/src/config_overlay.rs
index 83c6052..62c44f1 100644
--- a/src/config_overlay.rs
+++ b/src/config_overlay.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-use crate::config::{Config, RestorePolicy};
+use crate::config::{Config, RestartApplyMode, RestorePolicy};
 use crate::error::AppError;
 
 /// Sparse patch over the env-derived [`Config`]. Each section is independent; a `None`
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ pub struct SettingsOverlay {
     pub landing: Option<LandingOverlay>,
     pub retention: Option<RetentionOverlay>,
     pub restore: Option<RestoreOverlay>,
+    pub console: Option<ConsoleOverlay>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -60,6 +61,13 @@ pub struct RestoreOverlay {
     pub pow_max_bits: Option<u32>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(default)]
+pub struct ConsoleOverlay {
+    /// How a restart-required config change applies: `manual` | `auto`.
+    pub restart_apply_mode: Option<String>,
+}
+
 /// Whether a changed field applies live or needs a restart. Drives BOTH the hot-swap
 /// decision and the `GET /admin/config` annotation — the single source of truth.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
@@ -82,6 +90,7 @@ pub fn runtime_class(section: &str, field: &str) -> RuntimeClass {
         ("landing", _) => RuntimeSafe,
         ("retention", _) => RuntimeSafe,
         ("restore", _) => RuntimeSafe,
+        ("console", _) => RuntimeSafe,
         _ => RestartRequired,
     }
 }
@@ -169,6 +178,20 @@ impl Config {
             }
         }
 
+        if let Some(cs) = &ov.console {
+            if let Some(m) = &cs.restart_apply_mode {
+                c.console.restart_apply_mode = match m.as_str() {
+                    "manual" => RestartApplyMode::Manual,
+                    "auto" => RestartApplyMode::Auto,
+                    other => {
+                        return Err(AppError::ValidationError(format!(
+                            "invalid console.restart_apply_mode {other:?} (want manual|auto)"
+                        )))
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        }
+
         c.validate()?;
         Ok(c)
     }
@@ -196,6 +219,7 @@ pub const EDITABLE_FIELDS: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
     ("restore", "pow_free_days"),
     ("restore", "pow_days_per_bit"),
     ("restore", "pow_max_bits"),
+    ("console", "restart_apply_mode"),
 ];
 
 impl Config {
@@ -230,6 +254,9 @@ impl Config {
                 pow_days_per_bit: Some(self.restore.pow_days_per_bit),
                 pow_max_bits: Some(self.restore.pow_max_bits),
             }),
+            console: Some(ConsoleOverlay {
+                restart_apply_mode: Some(self.console.restart_apply_mode.as_str().to_string()),
+            }),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -262,6 +289,29 @@ mod tests {
             runtime_class("retention", "erasure_enabled"),
             RuntimeClass::RestartRequired
         );
+        assert_eq!(
+            runtime_class("console", "restart_apply_mode"),
+            RuntimeClass::RuntimeSafe
+        );
         assert_eq!(runtime_class("mystery", "field"), RuntimeClass::RestartRequired);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn console_overlay_parses_restart_apply_mode() {
+        let ov: SettingsOverlay =
+            serde_json::from_str(r#"{"console":{"restart_apply_mode":"auto"}}"#).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            ov.console.unwrap().restart_apply_mode.as_deref(),
+            Some("auto")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn every_editable_field_has_a_runtime_class() {
+        // EDITABLE_FIELDS is the enumerable surface GET /admin/config annotates.
+        for (section, field) in EDITABLE_FIELDS {
+            let _ = runtime_class(section, field); // no panic / all covered
+        }
+        assert!(EDITABLE_FIELDS.iter().any(|(s, f)| *s == "console" && *f == "restart_apply_mode"));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index afa0778..5a773c6 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ pub struct AppState {
     /// Admin token minter/verifier. `Some` only when the admin surface is
     /// enabled; the admin plane and guard refuse all requests otherwise.
     pub admin_sessions: Option<AdminSessionManager>,
+    /// Signalled to trigger a graceful shutdown from INSIDE the app — e.g. an operator
+    /// config change in `auto` restart mode. `main` awaits this alongside SIGTERM;
+    /// systemd `Restart=always` brings the instance back with the new config applied.
+    pub shutdown: Arc<tokio::sync::Notify>,
 }
 
 impl AppState {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 09f8b9b..2ec0345 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         web_challenges: Arc::default(),
         prices: prices_cache,
         admin_sessions,
+        shutdown: Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new()),
     });
 
     // Periodic GC of expired website-auth challenges. Bounds the single-node
@@ -394,6 +395,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         });
     }
 
+    let shutdown = state.shutdown.clone();
     let app = build_router(state);
 
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(&addr).await?;
@@ -403,6 +405,32 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         listener,
         app.into_make_service_with_connect_info::<std::net::SocketAddr>(),
     )
+    .with_graceful_shutdown(shutdown_signal(shutdown))
     .await?;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+/// Completes on SIGTERM / Ctrl-C, or when the app signals a restart (an operator config
+/// change in `auto` mode). Lets axum drain in-flight requests before exit; systemd
+/// `Restart=always` then brings the instance back with the new config.
+async fn shutdown_signal(app_triggered: Arc<tokio::sync::Notify>) {
+    let ctrl_c = async {
+        let _ = tokio::signal::ctrl_c().await;
+    };
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    let term = async {
+        if let Ok(mut sig) =
+            tokio::signal::unix::signal(tokio::signal::unix::SignalKind::terminate())
+        {
+            sig.recv().await;
+        }
+    };
+    #[cfg(not(unix))]
+    let term = std::future::pending::<()>();
+    tokio::select! {
+        _ = ctrl_c => {}
+        _ = term => {}
+        _ = app_triggered.notified() => {}
+    }
+    tracing::info!("shutdown signal received; draining in-flight requests");
+}
diff --git a/tests/common/mod.rs b/tests/common/mod.rs
index 9066fb7..01b76d0 100644
--- a/tests/common/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/common/mod.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ pub async fn try_app_with(mutate: impl FnOnce(&mut Config)) -> Option<TestApp> {
         web_challenges: Arc::default(),
         prices,
         admin_sessions,
+        shutdown: Arc::default(),
     });
 
     Some(TestApp {