diff --git a/crates/hephd/src/selfupdate.rs b/crates/hephd/src/selfupdate.rs
index 122130c..a1354ac 100644
--- a/crates/hephd/src/selfupdate.rs
+++ b/crates/hephd/src/selfupdate.rs
@@ -85,10 +85,116 @@ pub async fn fetch_latest_tag(http: &reqwest::Client, url: &str) -> Result<Strin
     parse_latest_tag(&body)
 }
 
+/// Where "the latest release tag" comes from. Injectable so the poll loop can
+/// be exercised without hitting the network (real impl: [`ForgeReleaseSource`]).
+pub trait ReleaseSource: Send + Sync + 'static {
+    fn latest_tag(&self) -> impl std::future::Future<Output = Result<String>> + Send;
+}
+
+/// The production source: the forge's `releases/latest` over HTTP.
+pub struct ForgeReleaseSource {
+    http: reqwest::Client,
+    url: String,
+}
+
+impl ForgeReleaseSource {
+    /// Source backed by the daemon's shared client, hitting [`RELEASES_LATEST_URL`].
+    pub fn new(http: reqwest::Client) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            http,
+            url: RELEASES_LATEST_URL.to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl ReleaseSource for ForgeReleaseSource {
+    async fn latest_tag(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        fetch_latest_tag(&self.http, &self.url).await
+    }
+}
+
+/// The result of one self-update check — kept separate from logging so it can be
+/// asserted in tests.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum CheckOutcome {
+    /// The running version is at or ahead of the latest release.
+    UpToDate,
+    /// A strictly newer release exists, named by this tag (e.g. `v1.0.4`).
+    UpdateAvailable(String),
+    /// The check failed (forge unreachable, bad body, unparseable version).
+    Failed(String),
+}
+
+/// Run one check against `source`, comparing the latest tag to `current`. Never
+/// returns `Err` — a failure is folded into [`CheckOutcome::Failed`] so the loop
+/// keeps going (a flaky forge must never crash or stall the daemon).
+pub async fn check_release<S: ReleaseSource>(source: &S, current: &str) -> CheckOutcome {
+    match source.latest_tag().await {
+        Ok(tag) => match update_available(current, &tag) {
+            Ok(true) => CheckOutcome::UpdateAvailable(tag),
+            Ok(false) => CheckOutcome::UpToDate,
+            Err(e) => CheckOutcome::Failed(e.to_string()),
+        },
+        Err(e) => CheckOutcome::Failed(e.to_string()),
+    }
+}
+
+/// The background poll loop (notify-only for now): tick on `interval`, check for
+/// a newer release, and log the outcome. Runs forever; spawned as a task.
+pub async fn run_poll_loop<S: ReleaseSource>(source: S, interval: Duration, current: &'static str) {
+    let mut tick = tokio::time::interval(interval);
+    loop {
+        tick.tick().await;
+        match check_release(&source, current).await {
+            CheckOutcome::UpdateAvailable(tag) => {
+                tracing::info!(%tag, current, "self-update: newer release available")
+            }
+            CheckOutcome::UpToDate => tracing::debug!(current, "self-update: up to date"),
+            CheckOutcome::Failed(e) => tracing::warn!("self-update: release check failed: {e}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// A canned release source for deterministic loop/decision tests.
+    struct FakeSource(Result<String, &'static str>);
+    impl ReleaseSource for FakeSource {
+        async fn latest_tag(&self) -> Result<String> {
+            self.0.clone().map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!(e))
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn check_release_reports_outcomes_from_a_stubbed_source() {
+        // Newer release available.
+        let s = FakeSource(Ok("v1.0.4".into()));
+        assert_eq!(
+            check_release(&s, "1.0.3 (sha)").await,
+            CheckOutcome::UpdateAvailable("v1.0.4".into())
+        );
+        // Already current.
+        let s = FakeSource(Ok("v1.0.3".into()));
+        assert_eq!(
+            check_release(&s, "1.0.3 (sha)").await,
+            CheckOutcome::UpToDate
+        );
+        // Fetch failure → folded into Failed, never a panic/Err.
+        let s = FakeSource(Err("forge unreachable"));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            check_release(&s, "1.0.3 (sha)").await,
+            CheckOutcome::Failed(_)
+        ));
+        // Malformed tag → Failed.
+        let s = FakeSource(Ok("not-a-tag".into()));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            check_release(&s, "1.0.3 (sha)").await,
+            CheckOutcome::Failed(_)
+        ));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn config_defaults_interval_and_honors_override() {
         assert_eq!(SelfUpdateConfig::new(None).interval, DEFAULT_INTERVAL);
diff --git a/crates/hephd/src/server.rs b/crates/hephd/src/server.rs
index 2b6b614..0de5278 100644
--- a/crates/hephd/src/server.rs
+++ b/crates/hephd/src/server.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use heph_core::Store;
 
 use crate::oauth::{self, TokenStore};
 use crate::rpc::{self, Request, Response, RpcError, INTERNAL_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR};
-use crate::selfupdate::SelfUpdateConfig;
+use crate::selfupdate::{self, SelfUpdateConfig};
 use crate::sync::{self, SharedStore};
 
 /// How a spoke obtains the bearer token it presents to its hub (tech-spec §13).
@@ -116,18 +116,22 @@ impl Daemon {
         self.ctx.store.clone()
     }
 
-    /// If self-update is enabled, start its background poller. For now this only
-    /// announces the mode at startup; the polling + apply cycle is wired in
-    /// later self-update work. No-op when the mode is off.
+    /// If self-update is enabled, spawn its background poller: every
+    /// `cfg.interval` it checks the forge for a newer release and (for now) logs
+    /// when one is available. No-op when the mode is off.
     pub fn spawn_self_update_loop(&self) {
         let Some(cfg) = self.ctx.self_update.clone() else {
             return;
         };
+        let source = selfupdate::ForgeReleaseSource::new(self.ctx.http.clone());
         tracing::info!(
             interval_secs = cfg.interval.as_secs(),
             current = heph_core::VERSION,
             "self-update enabled"
         );
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            selfupdate::run_poll_loop(source, cfg.interval, heph_core::VERSION).await;
+        });
     }
 
     /// If this is a spoke (`hub_url` set), spawn a background task that syncs the