diff --git a/Lib/smtplib.py b/Lib/smtplib.py
index 57605a96dad..71d25fda268 100755
--- a/Lib/smtplib.py
+++ b/Lib/smtplib.py
@@ -175,8 +175,11 @@ def quoteaddr(addr):
     except AttributeError:
         pass
     if m == (None, None): # Indicates parse failure or AttributeError
-        #something weird here.. punt -ddm
+        # something weird here.. punt -ddm
         return "<%s>" % addr
+    elif m is None:
+        # the sender wants an empty return address
+        return "<>"
     else:
         return "<%s>" % m
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 9b5740b5302..bf61e774a85 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ Extension Modules
 Library
 -------
 
+- Bug #1430298: It is now possible to send a mail with an empty
+  return address using smtplib.
+
 - Bug #1432260: The names of lambda functions are now properly displayed
   in pydoc.