diff --git a/dspace/src/org/dspace/core/Email.java b/dspace/src/org/dspace/core/Email.java
index 5d307dfa45..021d8a18a2 100644
--- a/dspace/src/org/dspace/core/Email.java
+++ b/dspace/src/org/dspace/core/Email.java
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ public class Email
         
         if (username != null)
         {
+            props.put("mail.smtp.auth", "true");
             SMTPAuthenticator smtpAuthenticator = new SMTPAuthenticator(
                     username, password);
             session = Session.getDefaultInstance(props, smtpAuthenticator);