diff --git a/src/sbbs3/mailsrvr.c b/src/sbbs3/mailsrvr.c
index b24d05107334d0d37fc01e80626c11e2ac64f3a3..00d5700f489c784926b46bee2d71c2d7ae3128cb 100644
--- a/src/sbbs3/mailsrvr.c
+++ b/src/sbbs3/mailsrvr.c
@@ -4651,7 +4651,7 @@ static void smtp_thread(void* arg)
 					,socket, client.protocol, user.netmail);
 				fprintf(rcptlst,"%s=%u\n",smb_hfieldtype(RECIPIENTNETTYPE),NET_INTERNET);
 				fprintf(rcptlst,"%s=%s\n",smb_hfieldtype(RECIPIENTNETADDR),user.netmail);
-				sockprintf(socket,client.protocol,session,"251 User not local; will forward to %s", user.netmail);
+				sockprintf(socket,client.protocol,session,ok_rsp);	// used to be a 251 response, changed per RFC2821
 			} else { /* Local (no-forward) */
 				if(routed) { /* QWKnet */
 					fprintf(rcptlst,"%s=%u\n",smb_hfieldtype(RECIPIENTNETTYPE),NET_QWK);