diff --git a/lib/moodlelib.php b/lib/moodlelib.php
index ae5e137840f..57bc5d859f9 100644
--- a/lib/moodlelib.php
+++ b/lib/moodlelib.php
@@ -5028,6 +5028,17 @@ function email_to_user($user, $from, $subject, $messagetext, $messagehtml='', $a
         return true;
     }
 
+    if (!validate_email($user->email)) {
+        // we can not send emails to invalid addresses - it might create security issue or confuse the mailer
+        $invalidemail = "User $user->id (".fullname($user).") email ($user->email) is invalid! Not sending.";
+        error_log($invalidemail);
+        if (CLI_SCRIPT) {
+            // do not print this in standard web pages
+            mtrace($invalidemail);
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     if (over_bounce_threshold($user)) {
         $bouncemsg = "User $user->id (".fullname($user).") is over bounce threshold! Not sending.";
         error_log($bouncemsg);