diff --git a/Koha/Patron/Password/Recovery.pm b/Koha/Patron/Password/Recovery.pm
index 879058488e..f18b235c27 100644
--- a/Koha/Patron/Password/Recovery.pm
+++ b/Koha/Patron/Password/Recovery.pm
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ sub SendPasswordRecoveryEmail {
         }
     );
 
-    my $num_letters_attempted = C4::Letters::SendQueuedMessages( { message_id => $message_id } ) if $message_id;
+    my $num_letters_attempted = 0;
+    $num_letters_attempted = C4::Letters::SendQueuedMessages( { message_id => $message_id } ) if $message_id;
 
     return ($num_letters_attempted > 0);
 }