diff --git a/doc/lua-api/index.rst b/doc/lua-api/index.rst
index d790c6b6d..92c2904c6 100644
--- a/doc/lua-api/index.rst
+++ b/doc/lua-api/index.rst
@@ -1010,6 +1010,17 @@ Core class
     perform the heavy job in a dedicated task and allow remaining events to be
     processed more quickly.
 
+.. js:function:: core.disable_legacy_mailers()
+
+  **LEGACY**
+
+  **context**: body, init
+
+  Disable the sending of email alerts through the legacy email sending
+  function when mailers are used in the configuration.
+
+  Use this when sending email alerts directly from lua.
+
 .. _proxy_class:
 
 Proxy class
diff --git a/include/haproxy/mailers.h b/include/haproxy/mailers.h
index 43db167b6..89aa1b092 100644
--- a/include/haproxy/mailers.h
+++ b/include/haproxy/mailers.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/server-t.h>
 
 extern struct mailers *mailers;
+extern int send_email_disabled;
 
 int init_email_alert(struct mailers *mailers, struct proxy *p, char **err);
 void send_email_alert(struct server *s, int priority, const char *format, ...)
diff --git a/src/hlua.c b/src/hlua.c
index f8dc9bb02..d05e9cd60 100644
--- a/src/hlua.c
+++ b/src/hlua.c
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/xref.h>
 #include <haproxy/event_hdl.h>
 #include <haproxy/check.h>
+#include <haproxy/mailers.h>
 
 /* Lua uses longjmp to perform yield or throwing errors. This
  * macro is used only for identifying the function that can
@@ -1930,6 +1931,21 @@ static int hlua_set_map(lua_State *L)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* This function disables the sending of email through the
+ * legacy email sending function which is implemented using
+ * checks.
+ *
+ * It may not be used during runtime.
+ */
+__LJMP static int hlua_disable_legacy_mailers(lua_State *L)
+{
+	if (hlua_gethlua(L))
+		WILL_LJMP(luaL_error(L, "disable_legacy_mailers: "
+		                        "not available outside of init or body context"));
+	send_email_disabled = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /* A class is a lot of memory that contain data. This data can be a table,
  * an integer or user data. This data is associated with a metatable. This
  * metatable have an original version registered in the global context with
@@ -13141,6 +13157,7 @@ lua_State *hlua_init_state(int thread_num)
 	hlua_class_function(L, "Warning", hlua_log_warning);
 	hlua_class_function(L, "Alert", hlua_log_alert);
 	hlua_class_function(L, "done", hlua_done);
+	hlua_class_function(L, "disable_legacy_mailers", hlua_disable_legacy_mailers);
 	hlua_fcn_reg_core_fcn(L);
 
 	lua_setglobal(L, "core");
diff --git a/src/mailers.c b/src/mailers.c
index 601e8b927..c09e73c35 100644
--- a/src/mailers.c
+++ b/src/mailers.c
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@
 
 struct mailers *mailers = NULL;
 
+/* Set to 1 to disable email sending through checks even if the
+ * mailers are configured to do so. (e.g.: disable from lua)
+ */
+int send_email_disabled = 0;
+
 DECLARE_STATIC_POOL(pool_head_email_alert,   "email_alert",   sizeof(struct email_alert));
 
 /****************************** Email alerts ******************************/
@@ -305,6 +310,9 @@ void send_email_alert(struct server *s, int level, const char *format, ...)
 	int len;
 	struct proxy *p = s->proxy;
 
+	if (send_email_disabled)
+		return;
+
 	if (!p->email_alert.mailers.m || level > p->email_alert.level || format == NULL)
 		return;