# 501 \<\>: missing or malformed local part **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 9, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/501-missing-or-malformed-local-part/165160 "2009-04-09T18:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/semi)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/501-missing-or-malformed-local-part/165160/1 "2009-04-09T18:19:40Z")
I get this error when trying to use the actionmailer gem: Net::SMTPSyntaxError in EmailerController#sendmail 501 \<\>: missing or malformed local part Application Trace | Framework Trace | Full Trace /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:680:in `check_response' /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:653:in`getok’ /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:635:in `rcptto' /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:546:in`send0’ /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:545:in `each' /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:545:in`send0’ /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:472:in `sendmail' vendor/rails/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb:629:in`perform\_delivery\_smtp’ /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:379:in `start' /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:316:in`start’ vendor/rails/actionmailer/lib/action\_mailer/base.rb:627:in `perform_delivery_smtp' vendor/rails/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb:508:in` **send** ’ vendor/rails/actionmailer/lib/action\_mailer/base.rb:508:in `deliver!' vendor/rails/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb:383:in`method\_missing’ app/controllers/emailer\_controller.rb:6:in `sendmail’ What am I doing wrong? ---
**Author:** ![semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/semi)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/501-missing-or-malformed-local-part/165160/2 "2009-04-09T23:25:57Z")
On Apr 9, 5:17 pm, semi [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I get this error when trying to use the actionmailer gem: > > Net::SMTPSyntaxError in EmailerController#sendmail > > 501 \<\>: missing or malformed local part [#1842 ActionMailer doesn't correctly use return-path header - Ruby on Rails - rails](http://rails.lighthouseapp.com/projects/8994/tickets/1842) ? Fred ---
**Author:** ![semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@semi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/semi)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/501-missing-or-malformed-local-part/165160/3 "2009-04-10T17:01:48Z")
Thanks. My problem was the wrong email format was being entered to the recipients I was sending to. I think many of these errors are due to the fact that in the controller they do not get the correct values from their email form. On Apr 9, 5:25 pm, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)