diff --git a/api/funkwhale_api/users/views.py b/api/funkwhale_api/users/views.py
index 7e94f34a67807cdc4320d375edd642702810ba52..848bc7e6bc22002c18d27c5697210cce22332d4a 100644
--- a/api/funkwhale_api/users/views.py
+++ b/api/funkwhale_api/users/views.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from rest_framework import mixins, viewsets
 from rest_framework.decorators import action
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 
+from funkwhale_api.common import authentication
 from funkwhale_api.common import preferences
 
 from . import models, serializers, tasks
@@ -26,6 +27,13 @@ class RegisterView(registration_views.RegisterView):
     def is_open_for_signup(self, request):
         return get_adapter().is_open_for_signup(request)
 
+    def perform_create(self, serializer):
+        user = super().perform_create(serializer)
+        if not user.is_active:
+            # manual approval, we need to send the confirmation email by hand
+            authentication.send_email_confirmation(self.request, user)
+        return user
+
 
 class VerifyEmailView(registration_views.VerifyEmailView):
     action = "verify-email"
diff --git a/api/tests/users/test_views.py b/api/tests/users/test_views.py
index f02c16538d43f9281a691db6a9b9fe8d84b8ea7a..3a8929cd46bf6009b4c971a323b9d9da15df1040 100644
--- a/api/tests/users/test_views.py
+++ b/api/tests/users/test_views.py
@@ -418,7 +418,9 @@ def test_username_with_existing_local_account_are_invalid(
     assert "username" in response.data
 
 
-def test_signup_with_approval_enabled(preferences, factories, api_client, mocker):
+def test_signup_with_approval_enabled(
+    preferences, factories, api_client, mocker, mailoutbox, settings
+):
     url = reverse("rest_register")
     data = {
         "username": "test1",
@@ -455,6 +457,10 @@ def test_signup_with_approval_enabled(preferences, factories, api_client, mocker
         new_status="pending",
     )
 
+    confirmation_message = mailoutbox[-1]
+    assert "confirm" in confirmation_message.body
+    assert settings.FUNKWHALE_HOSTNAME in confirmation_message.body
+
 
 def test_signup_with_approval_enabled_validation_error(
     preferences, factories, api_client