diff --git a/src/ephios/core/forms/users.py b/src/ephios/core/forms/users.py
index 91ef954ad..04b2d1e8c 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/forms/users.py
+++ b/src/ephios/core/forms/users.py
@@ -347,8 +347,7 @@ def save(self, commit=True):
                 Q(id__in=self.cleaned_data["groups"]) | Q(id__in=(g.id for g in self.locked_groups))
             )
         )
-        # if the user is re-activated after the email has been deemed invalid, reset the flag
-        if userprofile.is_active and userprofile.email_invalid:
+        if "email" in self.changed_data:
             userprofile.email_invalid = False
         userprofile.save()
         return userprofile
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/migrations/0039_alter_userprofile_disabled_notifications.py b/src/ephios/core/migrations/0039_alter_userprofile_disabled_notifications.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4023958b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ephios/core/migrations/0039_alter_userprofile_disabled_notifications.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.2.13 on 2026-04-20 19:46
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+import ephios.extra.json
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ("core", "0038_eventtype_default_description"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="userprofile",
+            name="disabled_notifications",
+            field=models.JSONField(
+                blank=True,
+                decoder=ephios.extra.json.CustomJSONDecoder,
+                default=list,
+                encoder=ephios.extra.json.CustomJSONEncoder,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/models/users.py b/src/ephios/core/models/users.py
index 80619fa1d..6eae9bdfb 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/models/users.py
+++ b/src/ephios/core/models/users.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class UserProfile(guardian.mixins.GuardianUserMixin, PermissionsMixin, AbstractB
         choices=settings.LANGUAGES,
     )
     disabled_notifications = JSONField(
-        default=list, encoder=CustomJSONEncoder, decoder=CustomJSONDecoder
+        default=list, encoder=CustomJSONEncoder, decoder=CustomJSONDecoder, blank=True
     )
 
     USERNAME_FIELD = "email"
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/services/notifications/backends.py b/src/ephios/core/services/notifications/backends.py
index 0874af03f..9f7498935 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/services/notifications/backends.py
+++ b/src/ephios/core/services/notifications/backends.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def should_send(cls, notification):
     def user_prefers_sending(cls, notification):
         if not notification.user:
             return True
-        if not notification.user.is_active or notification.user.email_invalid:
+        if not notification.user.is_active:
             return False
         if (
             acting_user := notification.data.get("acting_user", None)
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/home.html b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/home.html
index ad9bd3c18..df6b1b370 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/home.html
+++ b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/home.html
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@
     <script type="text/javascript" src="{% static "ephios/js/consequences.js" %}"></script>
 {% endblock %}
 
+{% block messages %}
+    {% if request.user.email_invalid %}
+        <div class="alert alert-warning" role="alert">
+            {% translate "We failed to send notifications to your email address. Please check your email address and contact an administrator." %}
+        </div>
+    {% endif %}
+{% endblock %}
+
 {% block content %}
     <h1 class="page-header">
         {% blocktranslate trimmed with organization_name=global_preferences.general__organization_name %}
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/settings/settings_personal_data.html b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/settings/settings_personal_data.html
index 11e1b9bf2..3347b2cee 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/settings/settings_personal_data.html
+++ b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/settings/settings_personal_data.html
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
 {% load crispy_forms_filters %}
 {% load i18n %}
 
+{% block messages %}
+    {% if request.user.email_invalid %}
+        <div class="alert alert-warning" role="alert">
+            {% translate "We failed to send notifications to your email address. Please check your email address and contact an administrator." %}
+        </div>
+    {% endif %}
+{% endblock %}
+
 {% block settings_content %}
     <div class="row">
         <div class="col-12">
diff --git a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/userprofile_form.html b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/userprofile_form.html
index 49f43d3e0..e3415fee7 100644
--- a/src/ephios/core/templates/core/userprofile_form.html
+++ b/src/ephios/core/templates/core/userprofile_form.html
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ <h1>{% translate "Add new user" %}</h1>
     {% if userprofile.email_invalid %}
         <div class="alert alert-warning" role="alert">
             {% blocktranslate trimmed %}
-                The user is inactive because their email address is invalid. This can be caused by a typo or a problem
-                with the user's mail server. Please check the email address and correct it before activating the user
-                again.
+                The email address of the user is invalid. This can be caused by a typo or a problem
+                with the user's mail server. Please check the email address and correct it or ask the user to
+                solve the problem with their provider.
             {% endblocktranslate %}
         </div>
     {% endif %}