diff --git a/api/chalicelib/core/alerts.py b/api/chalicelib/core/alerts.py
index e5316ba06..55bd4a29e 100644
--- a/api/chalicelib/core/alerts.py
+++ b/api/chalicelib/core/alerts.py
@@ -138,7 +138,10 @@ def send_by_email(notification, destination):
 
 
 def send_by_email_batch(notifications_list):
+    if not helper.has_smtp():
+        print("no SMTP configuration for email notifications")
     if notifications_list is None or len(notifications_list) == 0:
+        print("no email notifications")
         return
     for n in notifications_list:
         send_by_email(notification=n.get("notification"), destination=n.get("destination"))