diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 868b6262..5deaff07 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Change Log
 
+## v1.0.49 (2022-11-01)
+
+- Enable SMTP email backend by default
+- Fix Grafana sidebar frontend bug
+
 ## v1.0.48 (2022-11-01)
 
 - verify_number management command
diff --git a/engine/apps/email/tasks.py b/engine/apps/email/tasks.py
index 3fdf4d4e..d9054745 100644
--- a/engine/apps/email/tasks.py
+++ b/engine/apps/email/tasks.py
@@ -39,6 +39,20 @@ def notify_user_async(user_pk, alert_group_pk, notification_policy_pk):
         logger.warning(f"User notification policy {notification_policy_pk} does not exist")
         return
 
+    # create an error log in case EMAIL_HOST is not specified
+    if not live_settings.EMAIL_HOST:
+        UserNotificationPolicyLogRecord.objects.create(
+            author=user,
+            type=UserNotificationPolicyLogRecord.TYPE_PERSONAL_NOTIFICATION_FAILED,
+            notification_policy=notification_policy,
+            alert_group=alert_group,
+            reason="Error while sending email",
+            notification_step=notification_policy.step,
+            notification_channel=notification_policy.notify_by,
+        )
+        logger.error(f"Error while sending email: empty EMAIL_HOST env variable")
+        return
+
     emails_left = user.organization.emails_left(user)
     if emails_left <= 0:
         UserNotificationPolicyLogRecord.objects.create(
diff --git a/engine/apps/email/tests/test_notify_user.py b/engine/apps/email/tests/test_notify_user.py
index a6b1c356..f5a10601 100644
--- a/engine/apps/email/tests/test_notify_user.py
+++ b/engine/apps/email/tests/test_notify_user.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ def test_notify_user(
     make_user_notification_policy,
 ):
     settings.EMAIL_BACKEND = "django.core.mail.backends.locmem.EmailBackend"
+    settings.EMAIL_HOST = "test"
 
     organization = make_organization()
     user = make_user_for_organization(organization)
@@ -44,6 +45,42 @@ def test_notify_user(
     assert len(mail.outbox) == 1
 
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_notify_empty_email_host(
+    settings,
+    make_organization,
+    make_user_for_organization,
+    make_token_for_organization,
+    make_alert_receive_channel,
+    make_alert_group,
+    make_alert,
+    make_user_notification_policy,
+):
+    settings.EMAIL_BACKEND = "django.core.mail.backends.locmem.EmailBackend"
+    settings.EMAIL_HOST = None
+
+    organization = make_organization()
+    user = make_user_for_organization(organization)
+
+    alert_receive_channel = make_alert_receive_channel(organization)
+    alert_group = make_alert_group(alert_receive_channel)
+
+    make_alert(alert_group=alert_group, raw_request_data=alert_receive_channel.config.example_payload)
+
+    notification_policy = make_user_notification_policy(
+        user,
+        UserNotificationPolicy.Step.NOTIFY,
+        notify_by=8,
+        important=False,
+    )
+
+    notify_user_async(user.pk, alert_group.pk, notification_policy.pk)
+    assert len(mail.outbox) == 0
+
+    log_record = notification_policy.personal_log_records.last()
+    assert log_record.type == UserNotificationPolicyLogRecord.TYPE_PERSONAL_NOTIFICATION_FAILED
+
+
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_notify_user_bad_smtp_host(
     settings,
@@ -56,6 +93,7 @@ def test_notify_user_bad_smtp_host(
     make_user_notification_policy,
 ):
     settings.EMAIL_BACKEND = "django.core.mail.backends.locmem.EmailBackend"
+    settings.EMAIL_HOST = "test"
 
     organization = make_organization()
     user = make_user_for_organization(organization)
@@ -93,6 +131,7 @@ def test_notify_user_no_emails_left(
     make_user_notification_policy,
 ):
     settings.EMAIL_BACKEND = "django.core.mail.backends.locmem.EmailBackend"
+    settings.EMAIL_HOST = "test"
 
     organization = make_organization()
     user = make_user_for_organization(organization)
diff --git a/engine/settings/base.py b/engine/settings/base.py
index 6235c3e3..e701ea24 100644
--- a/engine/settings/base.py
+++ b/engine/settings/base.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ BASE_URL = os.environ.get("BASE_URL")  # Root URL of OnCall backend
 # Feature toggles
 FEATURE_LIVE_SETTINGS_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_LIVE_SETTINGS_ENABLED", default=True)
 FEATURE_TELEGRAM_INTEGRATION_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_TELEGRAM_INTEGRATION_ENABLED", default=True)
-FEATURE_EMAIL_INTEGRATION_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_EMAIL_INTEGRATION_ENABLED", default=False)
+FEATURE_EMAIL_INTEGRATION_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_EMAIL_INTEGRATION_ENABLED", default=True)
 FEATURE_SLACK_INTEGRATION_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_SLACK_INTEGRATION_ENABLED", default=True)
 FEATURE_WEB_SCHEDULES_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("FEATURE_WEB_SCHEDULES_ENABLED", default=False)
 GRAFANA_CLOUD_ONCALL_HEARTBEAT_ENABLED = getenv_boolean("GRAFANA_CLOUD_ONCALL_HEARTBEAT_ENABLED", default=True)
diff --git a/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.module.css b/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.module.css
index ecd192db..158c14a2 100644
--- a/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.module.css
+++ b/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.module.css
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
   width: 725px;
 }
 
-ul {
+.features-list > ul {
   margin: 20px 30px;
 }
 
diff --git a/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.tsx b/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.tsx
index 79db0f35..c6eb5dc5 100644
--- a/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.tsx
+++ b/grafana-plugin/src/pages/chat-ops/parts/tabs/TelegramSettings/TelegramSettings.tsx
@@ -102,11 +102,13 @@ class TelegramSettings extends Component<TelegramProps, TelegramState> {
           </Block>
           <Text>
             <Text.Title level={4}>Features</Text.Title>
-            <ul>
-              <li>perform actions (acknowledge, resolve, silence)</li>
-              <li>discuss alerts in comments</li>
-              <li>notifications to users accounts will be served as links to the main channel</li>
-            </ul>
+            <div className={cx('features-list')}>
+              <ul>
+                <li>perform actions (acknowledge, resolve, silence)</li>
+                <li>discuss alerts in comments</li>
+                <li>notifications to users accounts will be served as links to the main channel</li>
+              </ul>
+            </div>
             Make sure your team connects Telegram in their OnCall user profiles too or they cannot manage alert groups.
           </Text>
           <HorizontalGroup>