diff --git a/backend/routes/outreach.py b/backend/routes/outreach.py
index 4fbd03c..9b072dc 100644
--- a/backend/routes/outreach.py
+++ b/backend/routes/outreach.py
@@ -116,11 +116,16 @@ def _send_smtp(to: str, subject: str, body: str, account: str = "partner", html:
     msg = _build_message(to, subject, body + _LEGAL_FOOTER, account, html=html)
     msg_bytes = msg.as_bytes()
     ctx = ssl.create_default_context()
-    with smtplib.SMTP(_SMTP_HOST, _SMTP_PORT, timeout=15) as s:
-        s.ehlo()
-        s.starttls(context=ctx)
-        s.login(acc["user"], acc["pass"])
-        s.sendmail(acc["from"], [to], msg_bytes)
+    if _SMTP_PORT == 465:
+        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:
+        with smtplib.SMTP(_SMTP_HOST, _SMTP_PORT, timeout=15) as s:
+            s.ehlo()
+            s.starttls(context=ctx)
+            s.login(acc["user"], acc["pass"])
+            s.sendmail(acc["from"], [to], msg_bytes)
     _imap_save_sent(msg_bytes, account)