diff --git a/internal/ent/hooks/invite.go b/internal/ent/hooks/invite.go
index 1560067bca..e44805ac0d 100644
--- a/internal/ent/hooks/invite.go
+++ b/internal/ent/hooks/invite.go
@@ -102,12 +102,23 @@ func HookInvite() ent.Hook {
 				return retValue, ErrInternalServerError
 			}
 
+			// check if the recipient already has an account so the invite link can route accordingly
+			recipientExists, err := m.Client().User.Query().
+				Where(user.EmailEqualFold(emailAddress)).
+				Exist(privacy.DecisionContext(ctx, privacy.Allow))
+			if err != nil {
+				logx.FromContext(ctx).Error().Err(err).Msg("error checking recipient account existence")
+
+				recipientExists = true
+			}
+
 			if err := sendSystemEmail(ctx, m.Client(), emaildef.InviteOp.Name(), emaildef.InviteRequest{
 				RecipientInfo: emaildef.RecipientInfo{Email: emailAddress},
 				InviterName:   inviterName,
 				OrgName:       orgName,
 				Role:          string(role),
 				Token:         tokenValue,
+				NewUser:       !recipientExists,
 			}); err != nil {
 				logx.FromContext(ctx).Error().Err(err).Msg("error sending email to user")
 
diff --git a/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails.go b/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails.go
index 3052c62a0b..8c20e882a0 100644
--- a/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails.go
+++ b/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails.go
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ type InviteRequest struct {
 	Role string `json:"role,omitempty" jsonschema:"description=Invited role"`
 	// Token is the invite token appended to the invite URL
 	Token string `json:"token" jsonschema:"required,description=Invite token"`
+	// NewUser indicates the recipient has no existing account
+	NewUser bool `json:"newUser,omitempty" jsonschema:"description=Whether the recipient has no existing account"`
 }
 
 // InviteJoinedRequest is the input for the invite-accepted notification
@@ -320,7 +322,11 @@ var _ = RegisterEmailOperation(Operation[InviteRequest]{
 		return "Join Your Teammate " + req.InviterName + " on " + cfg.CompanyName + "!"
 	},
 	Build: func(cfg RuntimeEmailConfig, req InviteRequest) render.ContentBody {
-		inviteURL := tokenURL(cfg.ProductURL, "/invite", req.Token)
+		// append the recipient email and new-account hint so the invite page can route the recipient
+		inviteURL := tokenURL(cfg.ProductURL, "/invite", req.Token) + "&email=" + url.QueryEscape(req.Email)
+		if req.NewUser {
+			inviteURL += "&new=true"
+		}
 		inviteIntro := template.HTML("You're in - let's build trust without the busywork. "+html.EscapeString(req.InviterName)+" has invited you to collaborate in "+html.EscapeString(cfg.CompanyName)+", as part of the ") + //nolint:gosec // all user input is escaped via html.EscapeString
 			render.Bold(req.OrgName) + " organization"
 		if req.Role != "" {
diff --git a/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails_test.go b/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails_test.go
index b109819507..63d3f9d9f3 100644
--- a/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails_test.go
+++ b/internal/integrations/definitions/email/system_emails_test.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func TestInviteEmailURLConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	req := InviteRequest{
-		RecipientInfo: RecipientInfo{FirstName: "Bob"},
+		RecipientInfo: RecipientInfo{FirstName: "Bob", Email: "bob@example.com"},
 		InviterName:   "Alice",
 		OrgName:       "Engineering",
 		Role:          "admin",
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func TestInviteEmailURLConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 	body := testDispatcher[InviteRequest](t, "InviteRequest").Build(cfg, req)
 
 	require.Len(t, body.Actions, 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, "https://app.testco.com/invite?token=inv-tok-456", body.Actions[0].Button.Link)
+	assert.Equal(t, "https://app.testco.com/invite?token=inv-tok-456&email=bob%40example.com", body.Actions[0].Button.Link)
 	assert.Equal(t, "Accept Invite", body.Actions[0].Button.Text)
 }