diff --git a/scripts/send-pull-request b/scripts/send-pull-request
index 5a11d1f1e6..21eb302169 100755
--- a/scripts/send-pull-request
+++ b/scripts/send-pull-request
@@ -41,6 +41,18 @@ harvest_recipients()
 	unset IFS
 }
 
+check_git_sendemail_config()
+{
+	GIT_SMTP=$(git config sendemail.smtpserver)
+	GIT_FROM=$(git config sendemail.from)
+	if [ -z "$GIT_SMTP" ] || [ -z "$GIT_FROM" ]; then
+		echo "ERROR: git sendemail is not configured."
+		echo "Please read GIT-SEND-EMAIL(1) and configure:"
+		echo "  sendemail.smtpserver"
+		echo "  sendemail.from"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+}
 
 # Parse and verify arguments
 while getopts "achp:t:" OPT; do
@@ -74,6 +86,9 @@ while getopts "achp:t:" OPT; do
 	esac
 done
 
+# Abort early if git-send-email is not properly configured
+check_git_sendemail_config
+
 if [ -z "$PDIR" ]; then
 	echo "ERROR: you must specify a pull-dir."
 	usage