diff --git a/todo/mail/delivery.py b/todo/mail/delivery.py
index 5b7f2d4..33f916f 100644
--- a/todo/mail/delivery.py
+++ b/todo/mail/delivery.py
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ def _declare_backend(backend_path):
             backend_module = importlib.import_module(backend_module_name)
             backend = getattr(backend_module, class_name)
             return backend(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        if from_address is None:
+            raise ValueError("missing from_address")
+
         _backend.from_address = from_address
         _backend.headers = headers
         return _backend
diff --git a/todo/utils.py b/todo/utils.py
index a2cde5b..c5b58a4 100644
--- a/todo/utils.py
+++ b/todo/utils.py
@@ -46,11 +46,7 @@ def todo_get_mailer(user, task):
     if task_backend is None:
         return (None, mail.get_connection)
 
-    from_address = getattr(task_backend, "from_address", None)
-    if from_address is None:
-        # worst fallback ever
-        from_address = user.email
-
+    from_address = getattr(task_backend, "from_address")
     from_address = email.utils.formataddr((user.username, from_address))
     return (from_address, task_backend)