diff --git a/api/cell_link_manager.py b/api/cell_link_manager.py
index fbecdaa..c6ec132 100644
--- a/api/cell_link_manager.py
+++ b/api/cell_link_manager.py
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ class CellLinkManager:
             try:
                 from app import config_manager
                 identity = config_manager.configs.get('_identity', {})
-                own_domain = identity.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', ''))
+                own_domain = identity.get('domain_name') or identity.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', ''))
                 if own_domain and remote_domain == own_domain:
                     raise ValueError(
                         f"Domain {remote_domain!r} is the same as this cell's own domain — "
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ class CellLinkManager:
             identity = self._local_identity()
             from app import config_manager
             id_cfg = config_manager.configs.get('_identity', {})
-            own_domain = id_cfg.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', 'cell'))
+            own_domain = id_cfg.get('domain_name') or id_cfg.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', 'cell'))
             own_invite = self.generate_invite(identity['cell_name'], own_domain)
         except Exception as e:
             return {'ok': False, 'error': f'could not build own invite: {e}'}
diff --git a/api/routes/cells.py b/api/routes/cells.py
index e1a4e74..075576c 100644
--- a/api/routes/cells.py
+++ b/api/routes/cells.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def get_cell_invite():
         from app import cell_link_manager, config_manager
         identity = config_manager.configs.get('_identity', {})
         cell_name = identity.get('cell_name', os.environ.get('CELL_NAME', 'mycell'))
-        domain = identity.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', 'cell'))
+        domain = identity.get('domain_name') or identity.get('domain', os.environ.get('CELL_DOMAIN', 'cell'))
         return jsonify(cell_link_manager.generate_invite(cell_name, domain))
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Error generating cell invite: {e}")
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ def update_cell_permissions(cell_name):
         # Regenerate Corefile so outbound DNS changes take effect
         try:
             from app import config_manager
-            domain = config_manager.configs.get('_identity', {}).get('domain', 'cell')
+            _id = config_manager.configs.get('_identity', {})
+            domain = _id.get('domain_name') or _id.get('domain', 'cell')
             peers = peer_registry.list_peers()
             cell_links = cell_link_manager.list_connections()
             firewall_manager.apply_all_dns_rules(peers, COREFILE_PATH, domain,