diff --git a/lib/alias.js b/lib/alias.js
index 0e1b060..e005dbd 100644
--- a/lib/alias.js
+++ b/lib/alias.js
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ export default class Alias extends Now {
       console.log(`> ${chalk.bold(chalk.underline(alias))} is a custom domain.`);
       console.log(`> Verifying the DNS settings for ${chalk.bold(chalk.underline(alias))} (see ${chalk.underline('https://zeit.world')} for help)`);
 
+      const { domain, nameservers } = await this.getNameservers(alias);
+      if (this._debug) console.log(`> [debug] Found domain ${domain} and nameservers ${nameservers}`);
+
       try {
         await this.verifyOwnership(alias);
       } catch (err) {
@@ -113,8 +116,6 @@ export default class Alias extends Now {
           // in which case we attempt to correct the dns
           // configuration (if we can!)
           try {
-            const { domain, nameservers } = await this.getNameservers(alias);
-            if (this._debug) console.log(`> [debug] Found domain ${domain} and nameservers ${nameservers}`);
             if (isZeitWorld(nameservers)) {
               console.log(`> Detected ${chalk.bold(chalk.underline('zeit.world'))} nameservers! Configuring records.`);
               const record = alias.substr(0, alias.length - domain.length);
@@ -158,6 +159,11 @@ export default class Alias extends Now {
         }
       }
 
+      if (!isZeitWorld(nameservers)) {
+        if (this._debug) console.log(`> [debug] Trying to register a non-ZeitWorld domain ${domain} for the current user`);
+        this.setupDomain(domain, { isExternal: true });
+      }
+
       console.log(`> Verification ${chalk.bold('OK')}!`);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 4bac1be..3c231ba 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -372,12 +372,12 @@ export default class Now extends EventEmitter {
   }
 
   // _ensures_ the domain is setup (idempotent)
-  setupDomain (name) {
+  setupDomain (name, { isExternal } = {}) {
     return this.retry(async (bail, attempt) => {
       if (this._debug) console.time(`> [debug] #${attempt} POST /domains`);
       const res = await this._fetch('/domains', {
         method: 'POST',
-        body: { name }
+        body: { name, isExternal: !!isExternal }
       });
       if (this._debug) console.timeEnd(`> [debug] #${attempt} POST /domains`);