diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
index 6f461292c..5633ee52a 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
@@ -579,6 +579,9 @@ public class PeerManager
         _invoker.postUnit(new Invoker.Unit() {
             public boolean invoke () {
                 try {
+                    // let the world know that we're alive
+                    _noderepo.heartbeatNode(_nodeName);
+                    // then load up all the peer records
                     _nodes = _noderepo.loadNodes();
                     return true;
                 } catch (PersistenceException pe) {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRecord.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRecord.java
index a38da3e14..88ed8a9bd 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRecord.java
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ public class NodeRecord
     }
 
     /** Creates a record for the specified node. */
-    public NodeRecord (String nodeName, String hostName, String publicHostName,
-                       int port)
+    public NodeRecord (String nodeName, String hostName, String publicHostName, int port)
     {
         this.nodeName = nodeName;
         this.hostName = hostName;
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
index a63fc9e5a..603d46953 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package com.threerings.presents.peer.server.persist;
 
 import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
+import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 
 import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
@@ -38,15 +39,14 @@ import com.samskivert.jdbc.jora.Table;
  */
 public class NodeRepository extends JORARepository
 {
-    /** The database identifier used when establishing a database connection.
-     * This value being <code>nodedb</code>. */
+    /** The database identifier used when establishing a database connection.  This value being
+     * <code>nodedb</code>. */
     public static final String NODE_DB_IDENT = "nodedb";
 
     /**
      * Constructs a new repository with the specified connection provider.
      *
-     * @param conprov the connection provider via which we will obtain our
-     * database connection.
+     * @param conprov the connection provider via which we will obtain our database connection.
      */
     public NodeRepository (ConnectionProvider conprov)
         throws PersistenceException
@@ -64,15 +64,28 @@ public class NodeRepository extends JORARepository
     }
 
     /**
-     * Updates the supplied node record, inserting it into the database if
-     * necessary.
+     * Updates the supplied node record, inserting it into the database if necessary.
      */
     public void updateNode (NodeRecord record)
         throws PersistenceException
     {
+        record.lastUpdated = new Timestamp(System.currentTimeMillis());
         store(_ntable, record);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Updates {@link NodeRecord#lastUpdated} for the specified node, indicating that the node is
+     * alive and well.
+     */
+    public void heartbeatNode (String nodeName)
+        throws PersistenceException
+    {
+        NodeRecord record = new NodeRecord();
+        record.nodeName = nodeName;
+        record.lastUpdated = new Timestamp(System.currentTimeMillis());
+        updateField(_ntable, record, "lastUpdated");
+    }
+
     /**
      * Deletes the identified node record.
      */
@@ -104,8 +117,7 @@ public class NodeRepository extends JORARepository
     @Override // documentation inherited
     protected void createTables ()
     {
-	_ntable = new Table<NodeRecord>(
-            NodeRecord.class, "NODES", "NODE_NAME", true);
+	_ntable = new Table<NodeRecord>(NodeRecord.class, "NODES", "NODE_NAME", true);
     }
 
     protected Table<NodeRecord> _ntable;