diff --git a/sapl/settings.py b/sapl/settings.py
index 0905edb1b..903b38b6a 100644
--- a/sapl/settings.py
+++ b/sapl/settings.py
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
 LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL = '/'
 LOGIN_URL = '/login/?next='
 
-EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
+if DEBUG:
+    EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.console.EmailBackend'
+else:
+    EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
 
 
 # SAPL business apps in dependency order