diff --git a/backend/.env.template b/backend/.env.template
index 5bbf65e3b..273ad7e64 100644
--- a/backend/.env.template
+++ b/backend/.env.template
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ GRAPHQL_PORT=4000
 GRAPHQL_URI=http://localhost:4000
 CLIENT_URI=http://localhost:3000
 MOCKS=false
-SMTP_HOST=localhost
-SMTP_PORT=1025
+SMTP_HOST=
+SMTP_PORT=
 SMTP_USERNAME=
 SMTP_PASSWORD=
 
diff --git a/backend/README.md b/backend/README.md
index 3cce123ac..cd56e231f 100644
--- a/backend/README.md
+++ b/backend/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ or start the backend in production environment with:
 yarn run start
 ```
 
+For e-mail delivery, please configure at least `SMTP_HOST` and `SMTP_PORT` in
+your `.env` configuration file.
+
 Your backend is up and running at [http://localhost:4000/](http://localhost:4000/)
 This will start the GraphQL service \(by default on localhost:4000\) where you
 can issue GraphQL requests or access GraphQL Playground in the browser.
diff --git a/backend/src/config/index.js b/backend/src/config/index.js
index f0959ab53..e376c51e3 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/config/index.js
@@ -2,18 +2,18 @@ import dotenv from 'dotenv'
 
 dotenv.config()
 
-export const requiredConfigs = {
-  MAPBOX_TOKEN: process.env.MAPBOX_TOKEN,
-  JWT_SECRET: process.env.JWT_SECRET,
-  PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE: process.env.PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE,
-}
+const {
+MAPBOX_TOKEN,
+JWT_SECRET,
+PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE,
+SMTP_HOST,
+SMTP_PORT,
+SMTP_USERNAME,
+SMTP_PASSWORD,
+} = process.env
 
-export const smtpConfigs = {
-  SMTP_HOST: process.env.SMTP_HOST || 'localhost',
-  SMTP_PORT: process.env.SMTP_PORT || 1025,
-  SMTP_USERNAME: process.env.SMTP_USERNAME,
-  SMTP_PASSWORD: process.env.SMTP_PASSWORD,
-}
+export const requiredConfigs = { MAPBOX_TOKEN, JWT_SECRET, PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE }
+export const smtpConfigs = { SMTP_HOST, SMTP_PORT, SMTP_USERNAME, SMTP_PASSWORD }
 
 export const neo4jConfigs = {
   NEO4J_URI: process.env.NEO4J_URI || 'bolt://localhost:7687',
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ export const serverConfigs = {
 }
 
 export const developmentConfigs = {
-  SEND_MAILS: process.env.SEND_MAILS || false,
   DEBUG: process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' && process.env.DEBUG === 'true',
   MOCKS: process.env.MOCKS === 'true',
   DISABLED_MIDDLEWARES:
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/passwordReset.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/passwordReset.js
index ed9ec7ea1..baf6c1339 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/passwordReset.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/passwordReset.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export default {
     requestPasswordReset: async (_, { email }, { driver }) => {
       const code = uuid().substring(0, 6)
       await createPasswordReset({ driver, code, email })
-      if (CONFIG.SEND_MAILS) {
+      if (CONFIG.SMTP_HOST && CONFIG.SMTP_PORT) {
         await transporter().sendMail({
           from: '"Human Connection" <info@human-connection.org>', // sender address
           to: email, // list of receivers