diff --git a/docs/NEWS b/docs/NEWS
index b4be71d1..f8247731 100644
--- a/docs/NEWS
+++ b/docs/NEWS
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ Version 1.5 ()
     * Also use htmlspecialchars() for the Recent Entries sidebar plugin
       (Anson)
 
+    * Do not send mails, if the "To:" address is empty, might happen
+      if authors do not have a mail account entered in their profile.
+      (nealk)
+
     * Fixed Spartacus download URLs for SF.Net mirror (christian_boltz)
 
     * Allow redirects when fetching remote images (garvinhicking)
diff --git a/include/functions.inc.php b/include/functions.inc.php
index ad6faf23..ce96a5d4 100644
--- a/include/functions.inc.php
+++ b/include/functions.inc.php
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ function serendipity_sendMail($to, $subject, $message, $fromMail, $headers = NUL
         fclose($fp);
     }
 
-    if (!isset($maildata['skip_native'])) {
+    if (!isset($maildata['skip_native']) && !empty($maildata['to'])) {
         return mail($maildata['to'], $maildata['subject'], $maildata['message'], implode("\n", $maildata['headers']));
     }
 }