diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/requestitem/RequestItemEmailNotifier.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/requestitem/RequestItemEmailNotifier.java
index 02054ee1a0..435fa0f9cc 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/requestitem/RequestItemEmailNotifier.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/requestitem/RequestItemEmailNotifier.java
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ public class RequestItemEmailNotifier {
         email.setContent("body", message);
         email.setSubject(subject);
         email.addRecipient(ri.getReqEmail());
-        if (ri.isAccept_request()) {
-            // Attach bitstreams.
-            try {
+        // Attach bitstreams.
+        try {
+            if (ri.isAccept_request()) {
                 if (ri.isAllfiles()) {
                     Item item = ri.getItem();
                     List<Bundle> bundles = item.getBundles("ORIGINAL");
@@ -179,11 +179,19 @@ public class RequestItemEmailNotifier {
                             bitstream.getFormat(context).getMIMEType());
                 }
                 email.send();
-            } catch (MessagingException | IOException | SQLException | AuthorizeException e) {
-                LOG.warn(LogHelper.getHeader(context,
-                        "error_mailing_requestItem", e.getMessage()));
-                throw new IOException("Reply not sent:  " + e.getMessage());
+            } else {
+                boolean sendRejectEmail = configurationService
+                    .getBooleanProperty("request.item.reject.email", true);
+                // Not all sites want the "refusal" to be sent back to the requester via
+                // email. However, by default, the rejection email is sent back.
+                if (sendRejectEmail) {
+                    email.send();
+                }
             }
+        } catch (MessagingException | IOException | SQLException | AuthorizeException e) {
+            LOG.warn(LogHelper.getHeader(context,
+                    "error_mailing_requestItem", e.getMessage()));
+            throw new IOException("Reply not sent:  " + e.getMessage());
         }
         LOG.info(LogHelper.getHeader(context,
                 "sent_attach_requestItem", "token={}"), ri.getToken());
diff --git a/dspace/config/dspace.cfg b/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
index 8e532310c1..29c21325fc 100644
--- a/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
+++ b/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
@@ -1549,6 +1549,10 @@ log.report.dir = ${dspace.dir}/log
 request.item.type = all
 # Should all Request Copy emails go to the helpdesk instead of the item submitter?
 request.item.helpdesk.override = false
+# Should a rejection of a copy request send an email back to the requester?
+# Defaults to "true", which means a rejection email is sent back.
+# Setting it to "false" results in a silent rejection.
+request.item.reject.email = true
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------#
 #------------------SUBMISSION CONFIGURATION------------------------#