diff --git a/app/Ninja/Mailers/Mailer.php b/app/Ninja/Mailers/Mailer.php
index d1aa10ec7c7e..b7c50bea8836 100644
--- a/app/Ninja/Mailers/Mailer.php
+++ b/app/Ninja/Mailers/Mailer.php
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ class Mailer
 {
     public function sendTo($toEmail, $fromEmail, $fromName, $subject, $view, $data = [])
     {
+        // check the username is set
+        if ( ! env('POSTMARK_API_TOKEN') && ! env('MAIL_USERNAME')) {
+            return trans('texts.invalid_mail_config');
+        }
+
+        // don't send emails to dummy addresses
         if (stristr($toEmail, '@example.com')) {
             return true;
         }
diff --git a/resources/lang/en/texts.php b/resources/lang/en/texts.php
index 10e253be27b0..ba7fb23d8a20 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en/texts.php
+++ b/resources/lang/en/texts.php
@@ -1032,4 +1032,7 @@ return array(
     'color_font_help' => 'Note: the primary color and fonts are also used in the client portal and custom email designs.',
 
     'live_preview' => 'Live Preview',
+    'invalid_mail_config' => 'Unable to send email, please check that the mail settings are correct.',
+
+
 );
\ No newline at end of file