diff --git a/mailpoet/lib/Config/Activator.php b/mailpoet/lib/Config/Activator.php
index 5cd80b05a6..90dca963e6 100644
--- a/mailpoet/lib/Config/Activator.php
+++ b/mailpoet/lib/Config/Activator.php
@@ -136,12 +136,8 @@ class Activator {
 
     if (!is_null($version)) return; // not a new user
 
-    $sendingMethodSet = $this->settings->get('mta.method', false);
-
-    if ($sendingMethodSet === 'PHPMail') {
-      // check for valid mail function
-      $this->settings->set(DisabledMailFunctionNotice::QUEUE_DISABLED_MAIL_FUNCTION_CHECK, true);
-    }
+    // check for valid mail function on new installs
+    $this->settings->set(DisabledMailFunctionNotice::QUEUE_DISABLED_MAIL_FUNCTION_CHECK, true);
   }
 
   private function deleteAllMailPoetTablesAndData(): void {
diff --git a/mailpoet/lib/Util/Notices/DisabledMailFunctionNotice.php b/mailpoet/lib/Util/Notices/DisabledMailFunctionNotice.php
index cc4c000dcf..97f257ef7b 100644
--- a/mailpoet/lib/Util/Notices/DisabledMailFunctionNotice.php
+++ b/mailpoet/lib/Util/Notices/DisabledMailFunctionNotice.php
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class DisabledMailFunctionNotice {
       $this->settings->set(self::QUEUE_DISABLED_MAIL_FUNCTION_CHECK, false);
     }
 
-    $sendingMethod = $this->settings->get('mta.method', false);
+    $sendingMethod = $this->settings->get('mta.method', SettingsController::DEFAULT_SENDING_METHOD);
     $isPhpMailSendingMethod = $sendingMethod === Mailer::METHOD_PHPMAIL;
 
     if (!$isPhpMailSendingMethod) {