diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/ir/ir_mail_server.py b/odoo/addons/base/ir/ir_mail_server.py
index ef662a2f241..21ed5502ce6 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/ir/ir_mail_server.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/ir/ir_mail_server.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class IrMailServer(models.Model):
         else:
             connection = smtplib.SMTP(smtp_server, smtp_port)
         connection.set_debuglevel(smtp_debug)
-        if encryption == 'starttls':
+        if smtp_encryption == 'starttls':
             # starttls() will perform ehlo() if needed first
             # and will discard the previous list of services
             # after successfully performing STARTTLS command,