diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d40414a..93ce30d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ The command prints `SMTP_CONNECTION_OK` only after the SMTP server accepts the S
 
 6. Send a delivery test to an inbox you control:
 
-```powershell
-.\scripts\test-smtp.ps1 -To you@example.com
+```sh
+python ./scripts/send-test-email.py --to you@example.com
 ```
 
-The command prints `SMTP_TEST_SENT_TO=<address>` only after the SMTP server accepts the message. Confirm the message arrives, then use **Forgot your password?** in the application to verify a real reset email and link.
+The command works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It prints `SMTP_TEST_SENT_TO=<address>` only after the SMTP server accepts the message. Confirm the message arrives, then use **Forgot your password?** in the application to verify a real reset email and link. The existing PowerShell alternative remains available as `./scripts/test-smtp.ps1 -To you@example.com`.
 
 ## Production notes
 
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index d13ede4..a3ac9e1 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 - [x] Local accounts, administrator approval, and TOTP MFA.
 - [x] QR-based MFA enrollment for iPhone and Android authenticators.
 - [x] Email addresses, member password changes, and expiring password-reset links.
-- [ ] Configure production SMTP credentials and verify outgoing email delivery. Run `python ./scripts/check-smtp.py`, then complete after the delivery test in [README.md](README.md) is received.
+- [ ] Configure production SMTP credentials and verify outgoing email delivery. Run `python ./scripts/check-smtp.py`, then `python ./scripts/send-test-email.py --to you@example.com`; complete after the delivery test in [README.md](README.md) is received.
 - [ ] Run `./scripts/rotate-admin.ps1` on Windows or `sh ./scripts/rotate-admin.sh` on Linux/macOS, then sign in as `admin` and scan the new MFA QR code to complete authenticator enrollment.
 - [x] Add CSRF protection to all state-changing forms.
 - [ ] Add automated database backups and test restoration.
diff --git a/scripts/__pycache__/check-smtp.cpython-314.pyc b/scripts/__pycache__/check-smtp.cpython-314.pyc
index 402e476..edc7095 100644
Binary files a/scripts/__pycache__/check-smtp.cpython-314.pyc and b/scripts/__pycache__/check-smtp.cpython-314.pyc differ
diff --git a/scripts/__pycache__/send-test-email.cpython-314.pyc b/scripts/__pycache__/send-test-email.cpython-314.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51577f4
Binary files /dev/null and b/scripts/__pycache__/send-test-email.cpython-314.pyc differ
diff --git a/scripts/send-test-email.py b/scripts/send-test-email.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f16a326
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/send-test-email.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Send one explicit SMTP delivery test email using local .env settings."""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import smtplib
+import ssl
+import sys
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from email.message import EmailMessage
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REQUIRED_SETTINGS = ("MAIL_HOST", "MAIL_PORT", "MAIL_USERNAME", "MAIL_PASSWORD", "MAIL_FROM")
+
+
+def load_dotenv(path):
+    if not path.is_file():
+        raise RuntimeError("Missing .env. Copy .env.example to .env and enter the SMTP settings.")
+    for line in path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
+        line = line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+            continue
+        key, separator, value = line.partition("=")
+        if separator and key.strip():
+            os.environ.setdefault(key.strip(), value.strip().strip('"').strip("'"))
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Send an Eternity Project SMTP test email.")
+    parser.add_argument("--to", required=True, help="Recipient email address")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    project_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+    load_dotenv(project_root / ".env")
+    missing = [setting for setting in REQUIRED_SETTINGS if not os.environ.get(setting)]
+    if missing:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Missing required SMTP settings: {', '.join(missing)}")
+
+    message = EmailMessage()
+    message["Subject"] = "Eternity Project SMTP verification"
+    message["From"] = os.environ["MAIL_FROM"]
+    message["To"] = args.to
+    message.set_content(
+        f"SMTP delivery verification completed at {datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()}.\n"
+        "You can now test password-reset delivery from the application."
+    )
+
+    try:
+        with smtplib.SMTP(os.environ["MAIL_HOST"], int(os.environ["MAIL_PORT"]), timeout=15) as client:
+            client.ehlo()
+            client.starttls(context=ssl.create_default_context())
+            client.ehlo()
+            client.login(os.environ["MAIL_USERNAME"], os.environ["MAIL_PASSWORD"])
+            client.send_message(message)
+    except (OSError, smtplib.SMTPException) as error:
+        print(f"SMTP_TEST_FAILED: {error}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    print(f"SMTP_TEST_SENT_TO={args.to}")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        raise SystemExit(main())
+    except RuntimeError as error:
+        print(f"SMTP_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: {error}", file=sys.stderr)
+        raise SystemExit(2)