diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index e3928a9..45a1954 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ from flask import Flask, request, send_from_directory
 from flask_socketio import SocketIO, emit, join_room, disconnect
 
 from database import db, init_db
-from models import User, Message, UserIgnore
+from models import User, Message, UserIgnore, Ban, Mute
 from config import (
     SECRET_KEY, ADMIN_PASSWORD, DATABASE_URL, CORS_ORIGINS,
     MAX_MSG_LEN, LOBBY, AI_FREE_LIMIT, AI_BOT_NAME,
@@ -304,6 +304,15 @@ def create_app() -> Flask:
     init_db(app)
     _app_ref = app
 
+    # Load persisted bans and mutes from the database
+    with app.app_context():
+        for ban in Ban.query.all():
+            banned_usernames.add(ban.username.lower())
+            if ban.ip:
+                banned_ips.add(ban.ip)
+        for mute in Mute.query.all():
+            muted_users.add(mute.username.lower())
+
     msg_queue = (
         os.environ.get("SOCKETIO_MESSAGE_QUEUE")
         or os.environ.get("REDIS_URL")
@@ -659,13 +668,19 @@ def on_ban(data):
     target = str(data.get("target", "")).strip()
     lower  = target.lower()
     banned_usernames.add(lower)
+    ip = None
     target_sid = username_to_sid.get(lower)
     if target_sid:
         info = connected_users.get(target_sid, {})
         if info.get("ip"):
             banned_ips.add(info["ip"])
+            ip = info["ip"]
         socketio.emit("kicked", {"msg": "You have been banned."}, to=target_sid)
         eventlet.spawn_after(0.5, _do_disconnect, target_sid)
+    # Persist to DB
+    if not Ban.query.filter_by(username=lower).first():
+        db.session.add(Ban(username=lower, ip=ip))
+        db.session.commit()
     socketio.emit("system", {"msg": f"🔨 **{target}** was banned.", "ts": _ts()}, to=LOBBY)
 
 
@@ -675,9 +690,16 @@ def on_mute(data):
     target = str(data.get("target", "")).strip()
     lower  = target.lower()
     if lower in muted_users:
-        muted_users.discard(lower); action = "unmuted"
+        muted_users.discard(lower)
+        Mute.query.filter_by(username=lower).delete()
+        db.session.commit()
+        action = "unmuted"
     else:
-        muted_users.add(lower); action = "muted"
+        muted_users.add(lower)
+        if not Mute.query.filter_by(username=lower).first():
+            db.session.add(Mute(username=lower))
+            db.session.commit()
+        action = "muted"
     emit("system", {"msg": f"🔇 **{target}** was {action}.", "ts": _ts()}, to=LOBBY)
 
 
@@ -688,13 +710,19 @@ def on_kickban(data):
     lower  = target.lower()
     # Ban
     banned_usernames.add(lower)
+    ip = None
     target_sid = username_to_sid.get(lower)
     if target_sid:
         info = connected_users.get(target_sid, {})
         if info.get("ip"):
             banned_ips.add(info["ip"])
+            ip = info["ip"]
         socketio.emit("kicked", {"msg": "You have been banned."}, to=target_sid)
         eventlet.spawn_after(0.5, _do_disconnect, target_sid)
+    # Persist to DB
+    if not Ban.query.filter_by(username=lower).first():
+        db.session.add(Ban(username=lower, ip=ip))
+        db.session.commit()
     # Announce
     socketio.emit("system", {"msg": f"💀 **{target}** was kickbanned.", "ts": _ts()}, to=LOBBY)
 
diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index fa105d9..c151487 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -80,3 +80,23 @@ class Message(db.Model):
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return f"<Message {self.sender_id}→{self.recipient_id} @ {self.timestamp}>"
+
+
+class Ban(db.Model):
+    """Persisted ban entry – survives server restarts."""
+    __tablename__ = "bans"
+
+    id         = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key=True)
+    username   = db.Column(db.String(20), nullable=False, index=True)
+    ip         = db.Column(db.String(45), nullable=True, index=True)
+    reason     = db.Column(db.String(255), nullable=True)
+    created_at = db.Column(db.DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, nullable=False)
+
+
+class Mute(db.Model):
+    """Persisted mute entry – survives server restarts."""
+    __tablename__ = "mutes"
+
+    id         = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key=True)
+    username   = db.Column(db.String(20), unique=True, nullable=False, index=True)
+    created_at = db.Column(db.DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, nullable=False)