diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
index 4265483..a7f138f 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/email.py
@@ -419,8 +419,9 @@ class EmailHandler(GenericHandler):
         if sender:
             return sender
 
-        # fall back to global default (required!)
-        return self.config.require(f'{self.config.appname}.email.default.sender')
+        # fall back to global default
+        return self.config.get(f'{self.config.appname}.email.default.sender',
+                               default='root@localhost')
 
     def get_auto_replyto(self, key):
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_email.py b/tests/test_email.py
index d4c05bd..d21fa32 100644
--- a/tests/test_email.py
+++ b/tests/test_email.py
@@ -205,18 +205,32 @@ class TestEmailHandler(ConfigTestCase):
     def test_make_auto_message(self):
         handler = self.make_handler()
 
-        # error if default sender not defined
-        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, handler.make_auto_message, 'foo')
+        # # error if default sender not defined
+        # self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, handler.make_auto_message, 'foo')
 
-        # so let's define that
+        # message is empty by default
+        msg = handler.make_auto_message('foo')
+        self.assertIsInstance(msg, mod.Message)
+        self.assertEqual(msg.key, 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(msg.sender, 'root@localhost')
+        self.assertEqual(msg.subject, "Automated message")
+        self.assertEqual(msg.to, [])
+        self.assertEqual(msg.cc, [])
+        self.assertEqual(msg.bcc, [])
+        self.assertIsNone(msg.replyto)
+        self.assertIsNone(msg.txt_body)
+        self.assertIsNone(msg.html_body)
+
+        # override defaults
         self.config.setdefault('wutta.email.default.sender', 'bob@example.com')
+        self.config.setdefault('wutta.email.default.subject', 'Attention required')
 
         # message is empty by default
         msg = handler.make_auto_message('foo')
         self.assertIsInstance(msg, mod.Message)
         self.assertEqual(msg.key, 'foo')
         self.assertEqual(msg.sender, 'bob@example.com')
-        self.assertEqual(msg.subject, "Automated message")
+        self.assertEqual(msg.subject, "Attention required")
         self.assertEqual(msg.to, [])
         self.assertEqual(msg.cc, [])
         self.assertEqual(msg.bcc, [])
@@ -299,8 +313,8 @@ class TestEmailHandler(ConfigTestCase):
     def test_get_auto_sender(self):
         handler = self.make_handler()
 
-        # error if none configured
-        self.assertRaises(ConfigurationError, handler.get_auto_sender, 'foo')
+        # basic global default
+        self.assertEqual(handler.get_auto_sender('foo'), 'root@localhost')
 
         # can set global default
         self.config.setdefault('wutta.email.default.sender', 'bob@example.com')