diff --git a/spindle/server.go b/spindle/server.go
index 6ce8c946c..dd2d0bc1f 100644
--- a/spindle/server.go
+++ b/spindle/server.go
@@ -486,28 +486,52 @@ func (s *Spindle) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Spindle) declareTapInterest(ctx context.Context) {
-	repos, err := s.db.AllRepos()
-	if err != nil {
-		s.l.Warn("tap declare: failed to load known repos", "err", err)
-		return
+	repos, reposErr := s.db.AllRepos()
+	if reposErr != nil {
+		s.l.Warn("tap declare: failed to load known repos", "err", reposErr)
 	}
-	seen := make(map[syntax.DID]struct{}, len(repos))
-	dids := make([]syntax.DID, 0, len(repos))
-	for _, r := range repos {
-		if r.Owner == "" {
-			continue
+	members, membersErr := s.db.GetAllDids()
+	if membersErr != nil {
+		s.l.Warn("tap declare: failed to load known members", "err", membersErr)
+	}
+
+	seen := make(map[syntax.DID]struct{}, len(repos)+len(members)+1)
+	dids := make([]syntax.DID, 0, len(repos)+len(members)+1)
+	add := func(did syntax.DID) {
+		if did == "" {
+			return
+		}
+		if _, ok := seen[did]; ok {
+			return
 		}
-		if _, ok := seen[r.Owner]; ok {
+		seen[did] = struct{}{}
+		dids = append(dids, did)
+	}
+
+	owner, err := syntax.ParseDID(s.cfg.Server.Owner)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.l.Warn("tap declare: invalid configured owner", "owner", s.cfg.Server.Owner, "err", err)
+	} else {
+		add(owner)
+	}
+	for _, member := range members {
+		did, err := syntax.ParseDID(member)
+		if err != nil {
+			s.l.Warn("tap declare: invalid known member", "did", member, "err", err)
 			continue
 		}
-		seen[r.Owner] = struct{}{}
-		dids = append(dids, r.Owner)
+		add(did)
+	}
+	for _, repo := range repos {
+		add(repo.Owner)
 	}
+	sort.Slice(dids, func(i, j int) bool { return dids[i] < dids[j] })
+
 	if err := s.tap.AddOwnerDIDs(ctx, dids); err != nil {
 		s.l.Warn("tap declare: AddRepos rejected", "count", len(dids), "err", err)
 		return
 	}
-	s.l.Info("tap declare: known owner DIDs registered", "count", len(dids))
+	s.l.Info("tap declare: owner DIDs registered", "count", len(dids))
 }
 
 func Run(ctx context.Context) error {
diff --git a/spindle/tapclient_test.go b/spindle/tapclient_test.go
index 58e4aa641..f7501a930 100644
--- a/spindle/tapclient_test.go
+++ b/spindle/tapclient_test.go
@@ -4,17 +4,20 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
-	"tangled.org/core/jetstream"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/identity"
 	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
+
 	"tangled.org/core/api/tangled"
 	"tangled.org/core/eventconsumer"
 	"tangled.org/core/idresolver"
+	"tangled.org/core/jetstream"
 	"tangled.org/core/notifier"
 	"tangled.org/core/rbac"
 	"tangled.org/core/spindle/artifactstore"
@@ -22,11 +25,53 @@ import (
 	"tangled.org/core/spindle/db"
 	"tangled.org/core/spindle/models"
 	"tangled.org/core/spindle/secrets"
-	"tangled.org/core/workflow"
-
 	"tangled.org/core/tapc"
+	"tangled.org/core/workflow"
 )
 
+func TestDeclareTapInterestBootstrapsConfiguredOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	d, _ := newTestSpindleDB(t)
+	owner := syntax.DID("did:plc:spindleowner")
+	requests := make(chan []syntax.DID, 1)
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.Method != http.MethodPost || r.URL.Path != "/repos/add" {
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+		var body struct {
+			DIDs []syntax.DID `json:"dids"`
+		}
+		if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
+			return
+		}
+		requests <- body.DIDs
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	cfg := &config.Config{}
+	cfg.Server.Owner = owner.String()
+	s := &Spindle{
+		db:  d,
+		l:   slog.Default(),
+		cfg: cfg,
+	}
+	tapClient := tapc.NewClient(server.URL, "")
+	s.tap = &Tap{spindle: s, tap: tapClient}
+
+	s.declareTapInterest(context.Background())
+
+	select {
+	case dids := <-requests:
+		if len(dids) != 1 || dids[0] != owner {
+			t.Fatalf("tap interest = %v, want [%s]", dids, owner)
+		}
+	default:
+		t.Fatal("configured owner was not declared to tap")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProcessRepo_MembershipCheck(t *testing.T) {
 	d, e := newTestSpindleDB(t)