diff --git a/backend/routes/outreach.py b/backend/routes/outreach.py
index 9b072dc..d738998 100644
--- a/backend/routes/outreach.py
+++ b/backend/routes/outreach.py
@@ -120,10 +120,11 @@ def _send_smtp(to: str, subject: str, body: str, account: str = "partner", html:
         with smtplib.SMTP_SSL(_SMTP_HOST, _SMTP_PORT, context=ctx, timeout=15) as s:
             s.login(acc["user"], acc["pass"])
             s.sendmail(acc["from"], [to], msg_bytes)
-    else:
+    else:  # 587 oder 25 mit STARTTLS
         with smtplib.SMTP(_SMTP_HOST, _SMTP_PORT, timeout=15) as s:
             s.ehlo()
-            s.starttls(context=ctx)
+            if s.has_extn("starttls"):
+                s.starttls(context=ctx)
             s.login(acc["user"], acc["pass"])
             s.sendmail(acc["from"], [to], msg_bytes)
     _imap_save_sent(msg_bytes, account)