diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index e3ef9034..9c95c3bf 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -1354,3 +1354,18 @@ func (client *Client) CheckInvited(casefoldedChannel string) (invited bool) {
 	delete(client.invitedTo, casefoldedChannel)
 	return
 }
+
+// Implements auto-oper by certfp (scans for an auto-eligible operator block that matches
+// the client's cert, then applies it).
+func (client *Client) attemptAutoOper(session *Session) {
+	if client.certfp == "" || client.HasMode(modes.Operator) {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, oper := range client.server.Config().operators {
+		if oper.Auto && oper.Pass == nil && utils.CertfpsMatch(oper.Fingerprint, client.certfp) {
+			rb := NewResponseBuffer(session)
+			applyOper(client, oper, rb)
+			rb.Send(true)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index e00a9bac..3d0fe34d 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ type OperConfig struct {
 	WhoisLine   string `yaml:"whois-line"`
 	Password    string
 	Fingerprint string
+	Auto        bool
 	Modes       string
 }
 
@@ -461,6 +462,7 @@ type Oper struct {
 	Vhost       string
 	Pass        []byte
 	Fingerprint string
+	Auto        bool
 	Modes       []modes.ModeChange
 }
 
@@ -477,11 +479,18 @@ func (conf *Config) Operators(oc map[string]*OperClass) (map[string]*Oper, error
 		}
 		oper.Name = name
 
-		oper.Pass, err = decodeLegacyPasswordHash(opConf.Password)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		if opConf.Password != "" {
+			oper.Pass, err = decodeLegacyPasswordHash(opConf.Password)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 		}
 		oper.Fingerprint = opConf.Fingerprint
+		oper.Auto = opConf.Auto
+
+		if oper.Pass == nil && oper.Fingerprint == "" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Oper %s has neither a password nor a fingerprint", name)
+		}
 
 		oper.Vhost = opConf.Vhost
 		class, exists := oc[opConf.Class]
diff --git a/irc/handlers.go b/irc/handlers.go
index 62f509a2..2c3347c1 100644
--- a/irc/handlers.go
+++ b/irc/handlers.go
@@ -2177,14 +2177,19 @@ func operHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Resp
 		return false
 	}
 
-	authorized := false
+	// must have a matching oper block and not fail any enabled checks
+	// (config validation ensures that there is at least one check)
 	oper := server.GetOperator(msg.Params[0])
+	authorized := oper != nil
 	if oper != nil {
-		if utils.CertfpsMatch(oper.Fingerprint, client.certfp) {
-			authorized = true
-		} else if 1 < len(msg.Params) {
-			password := []byte(msg.Params[1])
-			authorized = (bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword(oper.Pass, password) == nil)
+		if oper.Fingerprint != "" && !utils.CertfpsMatch(oper.Fingerprint, client.certfp) {
+			authorized = false
+		} else if oper.Pass != nil {
+			if len(msg.Params) == 1 {
+				authorized = false
+			} else if bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword(oper.Pass, []byte(msg.Params[1])) != nil {
+				authorized = false
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	if !authorized {
@@ -2193,9 +2198,17 @@ func operHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Resp
 		return true
 	}
 
-	oldNickmask := client.NickMaskString()
+	applyOper(client, oper, rb)
+	return false
+}
+
+// applies operator status to a client, who MUST NOT already be an operator
+func applyOper(client *Client, oper *Oper, rb *ResponseBuffer) {
+	details := client.Details()
+	oldNickmask := details.nickMask
 	client.SetOper(oper)
-	if client.NickMaskString() != oldNickmask {
+	newNickmask := client.NickMaskString()
+	if newNickmask != oldNickmask {
 		client.sendChghost(oldNickmask, oper.Vhost)
 	}
 
@@ -2208,17 +2221,14 @@ func operHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Resp
 	copy(modeChanges[1:], oper.Modes)
 	applied := ApplyUserModeChanges(client, modeChanges, true)
 
-	rb.Add(nil, server.name, RPL_YOUREOPER, client.nick, client.t("You are now an IRC operator"))
-	rb.Add(nil, server.name, "MODE", client.nick, applied.String())
+	client.server.snomasks.Send(sno.LocalOpers, fmt.Sprintf(ircfmt.Unescape("Client opered up $c[grey][$r%s$c[grey], $r%s$c[grey]]"), client.nickMaskString, oper.Name))
 
-	server.snomasks.Send(sno.LocalOpers, fmt.Sprintf(ircfmt.Unescape("Client opered up $c[grey][$r%s$c[grey], $r%s$c[grey]]"), client.nickMaskString, oper.Name))
-
-	// client may now be unthrottled by the fakelag system
+	rb.Broadcast(nil, client.server.name, RPL_YOUREOPER, details.nick, client.t("You are now an IRC operator"))
+	rb.Broadcast(nil, client.server.name, "MODE", details.nick, applied.String())
 	for _, session := range client.Sessions() {
+		// client may now be unthrottled by the fakelag system
 		session.resetFakelag()
 	}
-
-	return false
 }
 
 // PART <channel>{,<channel>} [<reason>]
diff --git a/irc/responsebuffer.go b/irc/responsebuffer.go
index 9df090a0..7fcb1b8f 100644
--- a/irc/responsebuffer.go
+++ b/irc/responsebuffer.go
@@ -77,6 +77,18 @@ func (rb *ResponseBuffer) Add(tags map[string]string, prefix string, command str
 	rb.AddMessage(ircmsg.MakeMessage(tags, prefix, command, params...))
 }
 
+// Broadcast adds a standard new message to our queue, then sends an unlabeled copy
+// to all other sessions.
+func (rb *ResponseBuffer) Broadcast(tags map[string]string, prefix string, command string, params ...string) {
+	// can't reuse the IrcMessage object because of tag pollution :-\
+	rb.Add(tags, prefix, command, params...)
+	for _, session := range rb.session.client.Sessions() {
+		if session != rb.session {
+			session.Send(tags, prefix, command, params...)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // AddFromClient adds a new message from a specific client to our queue.
 func (rb *ResponseBuffer) AddFromClient(time time.Time, msgid string, fromNickMask string, fromAccount string, tags map[string]string, command string, params ...string) {
 	msg := ircmsg.MakeMessage(nil, fromNickMask, command, params...)
diff --git a/irc/server.go b/irc/server.go
index 5c56ac4d..bb498139 100644
--- a/irc/server.go
+++ b/irc/server.go
@@ -440,6 +440,9 @@ func (server *Server) playRegistrationBurst(session *Session) {
 	if modestring != "+" {
 		session.Send(nil, d.nickMask, RPL_UMODEIS, d.nick, modestring)
 	}
+
+	c.attemptAutoOper(session)
+
 	if server.logger.IsLoggingRawIO() {
 		session.Send(nil, c.server.name, "NOTICE", d.nick, c.t("This server is in debug mode and is logging all user I/O. If you do not wish for everything you send to be readable by the server owner(s), please disconnect."))
 	}
diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index d5638f41..10640958 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -446,13 +446,19 @@ opers:
         # modes are the modes to auto-set upon opering-up
         modes: +is acjknoqtux
 
-        # password to login with /OPER command
-        # generated using  "oragono genpasswd"
+        # operators can be authenticated either by password (with the /OPER command),
+        # or by certificate fingerprint, or both. if a password hash is set, then a
+        # password is required to oper up (e.g., /OPER dan mypassword). to generate
+        # the hash, use `oragono genpasswd`.
         password: "$2a$04$LiytCxaY0lI.guDj2pBN4eLRD5cdM2OLDwqmGAgB6M2OPirbF5Jcu"
 
-        # if you're logged in using the client cert with this SHA-256 fingerprint,
-        # you'll be able to /OPER without a password
-        fingerprint: "abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789"
+        # if a SHA-256 certificate fingerprint is configured here, then it will be
+        # required to /OPER. if you comment out the password hash above, then you can
+        # /OPER without a password.
+        #fingerprint: "abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789"
+        # if 'auto' is set (and no password hash is set), operator permissions will be
+        # granted automatically as soon as you connect with the right fingerprint.
+        #auto: true
 
 # logging, takes inspiration from Insp
 logging: