The phenylpropanoid pathway generates many of the signature molecules of land plants, including several defense compounds and the “wood” molecule, lignin. de Vries et al. (on pp. 934-945) report that the genetic toolkit for the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and lignin precursors was already present in streptophyte algae – the closest relatives of land plants. Their data help explain the observation that streptophyte algae have lignin-like compounds and suggest that streptophyte algal immunity includes phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites. These findings impact current views on how the first land plants acquired the ability to reinforce their cell walls and respond to pathogens.