diff --git a/internal/routerConfig/routes.go b/internal/routerConfig/routes.go
index 351941a..d58c3ed 100644
--- a/internal/routerConfig/routes.go
+++ b/internal/routerConfig/routes.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/graph/model"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/repository"
+	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/util"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/web"
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -60,6 +62,16 @@ func setupHomeRoute(i InfoType, r *http.Request) InfoType {
 	}
 
 	i["clusters"] = stats
+
+	if util.CheckFileExists("./var/notice.txt") {
+		msg, err := os.ReadFile("./var/notice.txt")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("failed to read notice.txt file: %s", err.Error())
+		} else {
+			i["message"] = string(msg)
+		}
+	}
+
 	return i
 }
 
diff --git a/web/templates/home.tmpl b/web/templates/home.tmpl
index c0ad661..090cd1c 100644
--- a/web/templates/home.tmpl
+++ b/web/templates/home.tmpl
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {{define "content"}}
-{{if .Message }}
+{{if .Infos.message }}
 <div class="row justify-content-center">
     <div class="col-4">
         <div class="alert alert-info p-3 text-center fs-3" role="alert">
             <i class="bi-info-circle-fill me-3"></i>
-            {{.Message}}
+            {{.Infos.message}}
         </div>
     </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/web/web.go b/web/web.go
index bba6c8d..c94c2b1 100644
--- a/web/web.go
+++ b/web/web.go
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ import (
 	"html/template"
 	"io/fs"
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/config"
+	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/internal/util"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/ClusterCockpit/cc-backend/pkg/schema"
 )
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func init() {
 		}
 
 		if path == "templates/login.tmpl" {
-			if _, err := os.Stat("./var/login.tmpl"); err == nil {
+			if util.CheckFileExists("./var/login.tmpl") {
 				log.Info("overwrite login.tmpl with local file")
 				templates[strings.TrimPrefix(path, "templates/")] =
 					template.Must(template.Must(base.Clone()).ParseFiles("./var/login.tmpl"))
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func init() {
 			}
 		}
 		if path == "templates/imprint.tmpl" {
-			if _, err := os.Stat("./var/imprint.tmpl"); err == nil {
+			if util.CheckFileExists("./var/imprint.tmpl") {
 				log.Info("overwrite imprint.tmpl with local file")
 				templates[strings.TrimPrefix(path, "templates/")] =
 					template.Must(template.Must(base.Clone()).ParseFiles("./var/imprint.tmpl"))
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func init() {
 			}
 		}
 		if path == "templates/privacy.tmpl" {
-			if _, err := os.Stat("./var/privacy.tmpl"); err == nil {
+			if util.CheckFileExists("./var/privacy.tmpl") {
 				log.Info("overwrite privacy.tmpl with local file")
 				templates[strings.TrimPrefix(path, "templates/")] =
 					template.Must(template.Must(base.Clone()).ParseFiles("./var/privacy.tmpl"))