diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
index 6c4f21db5fba..fe587a959463 100755
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
@@ -4197,7 +4197,12 @@ sub do_send_mail {
     $mail_command =~ s/\$SUBJECT/$subject/g;
     $mail_command =~ s/\$MESSAGE/$message/g;
 
-    run_command $mail_command;
+    my $ret = run_command $mail_command;
+    if (!$ret && defined($file)) {
+	# try again without the file
+	$message .= "\n\n*** FAILED TO SEND LOG ***\n\n";
+	do_send_email($subject, $message);
+    }
 }
 
 sub send_email {