diff --git a/db.py b/db.py
index 8a645ab..8b27e29 100644
--- a/db.py
+++ b/db.py
@@ -291,6 +291,15 @@ def init_db():
     db.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_page_tags_page ON page_tags(page_id)")
     db.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_page_tags_tag ON page_tags(tag_id)")
 
+    # Migrate custom_template: replace hardcoded forum link with {{forum_link}} placeholder
+    cur = db.execute("SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key='custom_template'")
+    row = cur.fetchone()
+    if row:
+        updated = row[0].replace('<a href="/forum">forum</a>', "{{forum_link}}")
+        if updated != row[0]:
+            db.execute("UPDATE settings SET value=? WHERE key='custom_template'", (updated,))
+            db.commit()
+
     db.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
     db.execute("PRAGMA synchronous=NORMAL")
     db.execute("PRAGMA cache_size=-64000")
diff --git a/templates.py b/templates.py
index 651e08c..90a609e 100644
--- a/templates.py
+++ b/templates.py
@@ -31,4 +31,6 @@ def wrap_page(body_html, use_default=False):
         template = get_setting("custom_template") or _default_template()
         if "{{content}}" not in template:
             template = _default_template()
+    forum_link = ' <a href="/forum">forum</a>' if FORUM_ENABLED else ""
+    template = template.replace("{{forum_link}}", forum_link)
     return template.replace("{{content}}", body_html)