diff --git a/lib/API/JSON/v1/Newsletters.php b/lib/API/JSON/v1/Newsletters.php
index 2ebc8cd397..686500c9f8 100644
--- a/lib/API/JSON/v1/Newsletters.php
+++ b/lib/API/JSON/v1/Newsletters.php
@@ -173,9 +173,21 @@ class Newsletters extends APIEndpoint {
       ]);
     }
 
+    // if the re-engagement email doesn't contain the re-engage link, it can't be activated
+    if ($newsletter->getType() === NewsletterEntity::TYPE_RE_ENGAGEMENT && $status === NewsletterEntity::STATUS_ACTIVE) {
+      if (strpos($newsletter->getContent(), '[link:subscription_re_engage_url]') === false) {
+        return $this->errorResponse([
+          APIError::FORBIDDEN => __(
+            'A re-engagement email must include a link with [link:subscription_re_engage_url] shortcode.',
+            'mailpoet'
+          ),
+        ], [], Response::STATUS_FORBIDDEN);
+      }
+    }
+
     $tracking = $this->settings->get('tracking');
     $tracking_enabled = !empty($tracking['enabled']) && $tracking['enabled'] === "1";
-    if ( !$tracking_enabled && $newsletter->getType() === NewsletterEntity::TYPE_RE_ENGAGEMENT && $status === NewsletterEntity::STATUS_ACTIVE) {
+    if (!$tracking_enabled && $newsletter->getType() === NewsletterEntity::TYPE_RE_ENGAGEMENT && $status === NewsletterEntity::STATUS_ACTIVE) {
       return $this->errorResponse([
         APIError::FORBIDDEN => __(
           'Re-engagement emails are disabled because open and click tracking is disabled in MailPoet → Settings → Advanced.',
diff --git a/lib/Entities/NewsletterEntity.php b/lib/Entities/NewsletterEntity.php
index ebccfe88d2..abefcf5069 100644
--- a/lib/Entities/NewsletterEntity.php
+++ b/lib/Entities/NewsletterEntity.php
@@ -500,4 +500,9 @@ class NewsletterEntity {
 
     return $processedAt;
   }
+
+  public function getContent(): string {
+    $content = $this->getBody()['content'] ?? '';
+    return json_encode($content) ?: '';
+  }
 }