diff --git a/api/smtp_configure.go b/api/smtp_configure.go
index c801091..4be4d82 100644
--- a/api/smtp_configure.go
+++ b/api/smtp_configure.go
@@ -13,12 +13,16 @@ func smtpConfigure() error {
 	password := os.Getenv("SMTP_PASSWORD")
 	host := os.Getenv("SMTP_HOST")
 	port := os.Getenv("SMTP_PORT")
-	if username == "" || password == "" || host == "" || port == "" {
+	if host == "" || port == "" {
 		logger.Warningf("smtp not configured, no emails will be sent")
 		smtpConfigured = false
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if username == "" || password == "" {
+		logger.Warningf("no SMTP username/password set, Commento will assume they aren't required")
+	}
+
 	if os.Getenv("SMTP_FROM_ADDRESS") == "" {
 		logger.Errorf("COMMENTO_SMTP_FROM_ADDRESS not set")
 		smtpConfigured = false