diff --git a/roles/yoda_rulesets/handlers/main.yml b/roles/yoda_rulesets/handlers/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..033b64caf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/yoda_rulesets/handlers/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+# copyright Utrecht University
+
+- name: Restart iRODS
+  ansible.builtin.service:
+    name: irods
+    state: restarted
diff --git a/roles/yoda_rulesets/tasks/main.yml b/roles/yoda_rulesets/tasks/main.yml
index 5f68f8cbd..fc3315e92 100644
--- a/roles/yoda_rulesets/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/yoda_rulesets/tasks/main.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
   with_items: "{{ extra_rulesets + core_rulesets }}"
   when: "'repo' in item and 'patch' not in item"
   register: repochanges
+  notify: Restart iRODS
 
 
 - name: Check out rulesets with local patches from Github
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@
   with_items: "{{ extra_rulesets + core_rulesets }}"
   when: "'repo' in item and 'patch' in item"
   register: patch_repochanges
+  notify: Restart iRODS
 
 
 - name: Sync rulesets with repos before applying patches
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@
     cmd: "git apply /etc/irods/{{ item.name }}.patch"
   with_items: "{{ extra_rulesets + core_rulesets }}"
   when: "'repo' in item and 'patch' in item and item['patch'] not in ['']"
+  notify: Restart iRODS
 
 
 - name: Remove temporary rule and cache files