diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 6f009d4..7a0f0fe 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -1573,7 +1573,17 @@ chain.startIndexer(evt=>{
     const c=getConfig();
     // teamRootId accepts a comma list ("21,136") — alerts fire for ANY listed org
     const roots=String(c.teamRootId||'').split(',').map(n=>Number(n.trim())).filter(n=>n>0);
-    const ids=evt.type==='payout'?[evt.toId,evt.fromId]:[evt.id];
+    // A brand-new member has no uplineId yet at the moment the 'registered'
+    // event fires: the indexer wires the matrix in a SEPARATE pass after the
+    // log loop. So isInTeam(newId) walks nothing, returns false, and the
+    // announcement is silently dropped — while the payout it triggered goes
+    // out, because that references existing members whose uplines are known.
+    // That was the "payout with no joiner beside it" Marty kept seeing.
+    // The referrer is always already wired, and if they are in the org so is
+    // anyone joining under them, so test them too.
+    const ids=evt.type==='payout'?[evt.toId,evt.fromId]
+      :evt.type==='registered'?[evt.id,evt.referrerId]
+      :[evt.id];
     if(roots.length&&ids.some(i=>roots.some(r=>chain.isInTeam(i,r)))){
       const contact=id=>{const s=getSponsors().find(x=>String(x.id)===String(id));return s&&s.email?`\nContact: ${s.name?s.name+' — ':''}${s.email}`:''};
       let text;