diff --git a/conf/dovecot-mailboxes.conf b/conf/dovecot-mailboxes.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ba5b9ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf/dovecot-mailboxes.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+## NOTE: This file is automatically generated by Mail-in-a-Box.
+##       Do not edit this file. It is continually updated by
+##       Mail-in-a-Box and your changes will be lost.
+##
+##       Mail-in-a-Box machines are not meant to be modified.
+##       If you modify any system configuration you are on
+##       your own --- please do not ask for help from us.
+
+namespace inbox {
+  # Automatically create & subscribe some folders.
+  # * Create and subscribe the INBOX folder.
+  # * Our sieve rule for spam expects that the Spam folder exists.
+  # * Roundcube will show an error if the user tries to delete a message before the Trash folder exists (#359).
+  # * K-9 mail will poll every 90 seconds if a Drafts folder does not exist.
+  # * Apple's OS X Mail app will create 'Sent Messages' if it doesn't see a folder with the \Sent flag. (#571, #573)
+
+  # auto:
+  # 'create' will automatically create this mailbox.
+  # 'subscribe' will both create and subscribe to the mailbox.
+
+  # special_use is a space separated list of IMAP SPECIAL-USE
+  # attributes as specified by RFC 6154:
+  # \All \Archive \Drafts \Flagged \Junk \Sent \Trash
+
+  mailbox INBOX {
+    auto = subscribe
+  }
+  mailbox Spam {
+    special_use = \Junk
+    auto = subscribe
+  }
+  mailbox Drafts {
+    special_use = \Drafts
+    auto = subscribe
+  }
+  mailbox Sent {
+    special_use = \Sent
+    auto = subscribe
+  }
+  mailbox Trash {
+    special_use = \Trash
+    auto = subscribe
+  }
+
+  # dovevot's standard mailboxes configuration file marks two sent folders
+  # with the \Sent attribute, just in case clients don't agree about which
+  # they're using. We'll keep that, plus add Junk as an alterative for Spam.
+  # These are not auto-created.
+  mailbox "Sent Messages" {
+    special_use = \Sent
+  }
+  mailbox Junk {
+    special_use = \Junk
+  }
+}
diff --git a/management/mailconfig.py b/management/mailconfig.py
index 962465ce..17fa9499 100755
--- a/management/mailconfig.py
+++ b/management/mailconfig.py
@@ -303,25 +303,6 @@ def add_mail_user(email, pw, privs, env):
 	# write databasebefore next step
 	conn.commit()
 
-	# Create & subscribe the user's INBOX, Trash, Spam, and Drafts folders.
-	# * Our sieve rule for spam expects that the Spam folder exists.
-	# * Roundcube will show an error if the user tries to delete a message before the Trash folder exists (#359).
-	# * K-9 mail will poll every 90 seconds if a Drafts folder does not exist, so create it
-	#   to avoid unnecessary polling.
-
-	# Check if the mailboxes exist before creating them. When creating a user that had previously
-	# been deleted, the mailboxes will still exist because they are still on disk.
-	try:
-		existing_mboxes = utils.shell('check_output', ["doveadm", "mailbox", "list", "-u", email, "-8"], capture_stderr=True).split("\n")
-	except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-		c.execute("DELETE FROM users WHERE email=?", (email,))
-		conn.commit()
-		return ("Failed to initialize the user: " + e.output.decode("utf8"), 400)
-
-	for folder in ("INBOX", "Sent", "Trash", "Spam", "Drafts"):
-		if folder not in existing_mboxes:
-			utils.shell('check_call', ["doveadm", "mailbox", "create", "-u", email, "-s", folder])
-
 	# Update things in case any new domains are added.
 	return kick(env, "mail user added")
 
diff --git a/setup/mail-dovecot.sh b/setup/mail-dovecot.sh
index bd4ddd1a..f6715dd2 100755
--- a/setup/mail-dovecot.sh
+++ b/setup/mail-dovecot.sh
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ tools/editconf.py /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-mail.conf \
 	mail_privileged_group=mail \
 	first_valid_uid=0
 
+# Create, subscribe, and mark as special folders: INBOX, Drafts, Sent, Trash, and Spam.
+cp conf/dovecot-mailboxes.conf /etc/dovecot/conf.d/15-mailboxes.conf
+
 # ### IMAP/POP
 
 # Require that passwords are sent over SSL only, and allow the usual IMAP authentication mechanisms.