diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_actions.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_actions.py
index 77eeb8d58f3..908dd86fa19 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_actions.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_actions.py
@@ -660,19 +660,6 @@ class actions_server(osv.osv):
 
             if action.state == 'email':
                 email_from = config['email_from']
-                address = str(action.email)
-                try:
-                    address =  eval(str(action.email), cxt)
-                except:
-                    pass
-
-                if not address:
-                    _logger.info('No partner email address specified, not sending any email.')
-                    continue
-
-                if not isinstance(address, tuple) and not isinstance(address, list):
-                    address = [address]
-
                 if not email_from:
                     _logger.debug('--email-from command line option is not specified, using a fallback value instead.')
                     if user.user_email:
@@ -680,16 +667,27 @@ class actions_server(osv.osv):
                     else:
                         email_from = "%s@%s" % (user.login, gethostname())
 
+                try:
+                    address = eval(str(action.email), cxt)
+                except:
+                    address = str(action.email)
+
+                if not address:
+                    _logger.info('No partner email address specified, not sending any email.')
+                    continue
+
+                # handle single and multiple recipient addresses
+                addresses = address if isinstance(address, (tuple, list)) else [address]
                 subject = self.merge_message(cr, uid, action.subject, action, context)
                 body = self.merge_message(cr, uid, action.message, action, context)
 
                 ir_mail_server = self.pool.get('ir.mail_server')
-                msg = ir_mail_server.build_email(email_from, address, subject, body)
+                msg = ir_mail_server.build_email(email_from, addresses, subject, body)
                 res_email = ir_mail_server.send_email(cr, uid, msg)
                 if res_email:
-                    _logger.info('Email successfully sent to: %s', address)
+                    _logger.info('Email successfully sent to: %s', addresses)
                 else:
-                    _logger.warning('Failed to send email to: %s', address)
+                    _logger.warning('Failed to send email to: %s', addresses)
 
             if action.state == 'trigger':
                 wf_service = netsvc.LocalService("workflow")