diff --git a/core/nginx/conf/nginx.conf b/core/nginx/conf/nginx.conf
index 1ffb44a2..fcd4bfd7 100644
--- a/core/nginx/conf/nginx.conf
+++ b/core/nginx/conf/nginx.conf
@@ -193,6 +193,11 @@ mail {
     ssl_session_cache shared:SSLMAIL:50m;
     {% endif %}
 
+    # Advertise real capabilites of backends (postfix/dovecot)
+    smtp_capabilities PIPELINING SIZE {{ MESSAGE_SIZE_LIMIT }} ETRN ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES 8BITMIME DSN CHUNKING;
+    pop3_capabilities TOP UIDL RESP-CODES PIPELINING AUTH-RESP-CODE USER;
+    imap_capabilities IMAP4 IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS SASL-IR LOGIN-REFERRALS ID ENABLE IDLE LITERAL+;
+
     # Default SMTP server for the webmail (no encryption, but authentication)
     server {
       listen 10025;
diff --git a/towncrier/newsfragments/1160.feature b/towncrier/newsfragments/1160.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc5231cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/towncrier/newsfragments/1160.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Advertise correct mail capabilities through the front-container, this also enables support for PIPELINING in mail-protocols and IMAP IDLE which is a (potential) performance gain.