diff --git a/flask_mail.py b/flask_mail.py
index d0756e5..64090c7 100644
--- a/flask_mail.py
+++ b/flask_mail.py
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ def configure_host(self):
             host = smtplib.SMTP_SSL(self.mail.server, self.mail.port)
         else:
             host = smtplib.SMTP(self.mail.server, self.mail.port)
-
+        
+        host.ehlo_or_helo_if_needed()
         host.set_debuglevel(int(self.mail.debug))
 
         if self.mail.use_tls: