diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filtermail.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filtermail.py
index 79fe1b66..0d6638ba 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filtermail.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filtermail.py
@@ -34,6 +34,41 @@ def check_encrypted(message):
     return True
 
 
+def check_mdn(message, envelope):
+    if len(envelope.rcpt_tos) != 1:
+        return False
+
+    for name in ["auto-submitted", "chat-version"]:
+        if not message.get(name):
+            return False
+
+    if message.get_content_type() != "multipart/report":
+        return False
+
+    body = message.get_body()
+    if body.get_content_type() != "text/plain":
+        return False
+
+    if list(body.iter_attachments()) or list(body.iter_parts()):
+        return False
+
+    # even with all mime-structural checks an attacker
+    # could try to abuse the subject or body to contain links or other
+    # annoyance -- we only check for http links for now
+    # and reasonable sizes
+
+    subject = message.get("subject")
+    if "http" in subject or len(subject) > 50:
+        return False  # actually could serve as a flag for malicious attempt
+
+    text = body.get_payload()
+    # how long the read-receipt can become?
+    if len(text) > 500 or "http" in text:
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
 class SMTPController(Controller):
     def factory(self):
         return SMTP(self.handler, **self.SMTP_kwargs)
@@ -82,6 +117,9 @@ def check_DATA(envelope):
     if envelope.mail_from.lower() != from_addr.lower():
         return f"500 Invalid FROM <{from_addr!r}> for <{envelope.mail_from!r}>"
 
+    if not mail_encrypted and check_mdn(message, envelope):
+        return
+
     envelope_from_domain = from_addr.split("@").pop()
     for recipient in envelope.rcpt_tos:
         if envelope.mail_from == recipient:
diff --git a/tests/chatmaild/test_filtermail.py b/tests/chatmaild/test_filtermail.py
index 13b0c92f..df71fd8a 100644
--- a/tests/chatmaild/test_filtermail.py
+++ b/tests/chatmaild/test_filtermail.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from chatmaild.filtermail import check_encrypted, check_DATA, SendRateLimiter
+from chatmaild.filtermail import check_encrypted, check_DATA, SendRateLimiter, check_mdn
 import pytest
 
 
@@ -41,8 +41,33 @@ def test_filtermail_encryption_detection(maildata):
     assert not check_encrypted(msg)
 
 
-def test_filtermail_mdn_is_not_encrypted(maildata):
-    assert not check_encrypted(maildata("mdn.eml"))
+def test_filtermail_is_mdn(maildata, gencreds):
+    from_addr = gencreds()[0]
+    to_addr = gencreds()[0] + ".other"
+    msg = maildata("mdn.eml", from_addr, to_addr)
+
+    class env:
+        mail_from = from_addr
+        rcpt_tos = [to_addr]
+        content = msg.as_bytes()
+
+    assert check_mdn(msg, env)
+    print(msg.as_string())
+    assert not check_DATA(env)
+
+
+def test_filtermail_to_multiple_recipients_no_mdn(maildata, gencreds):
+    from_addr = gencreds()[0]
+    to_addr = gencreds()[0] + ".other"
+    thirdaddr = gencreds()[0]
+    msg = maildata("mdn.eml", from_addr, to_addr)
+
+    class env:
+        mail_from = from_addr
+        rcpt_tos = [to_addr, thirdaddr]
+        content = msg.as_bytes()
+
+    assert not check_mdn(msg, env)
 
 
 def test_send_rate_limiter():
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 37a789ee..b97536d7 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class Remote:
 def maildata(request, gencreds):
     datadir = conftestdir.joinpath("mail-data")
 
-    def maildata(name, parsed=True, from_addr=None, to_addr=None):
+    def maildata(name, from_addr=None, to_addr=None):
         if from_addr is None:
             from_addr = gencreds()[0]
         if to_addr is None:
diff --git a/tests/mail-data/mdn.eml b/tests/mail-data/mdn.eml
index 5d9558d4..67ea71f0 100644
--- a/tests/mail-data/mdn.eml
+++ b/tests/mail-data/mdn.eml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Subject: Message opened
-From: <barbaz@c2.testrun.org>
-To: <foobar@c2.testrun.org>
+From: <{from_addr}>
+To: <{to_addr}>
 Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2023 16:43:25 +0000
 Message-ID: <Mr.78MWtlV7RAi.goCFzBhCYfy@c2.testrun.org>
 Auto-Submitted: auto-replied