diff --git a/doc/lua-api/index.rst b/doc/lua-api/index.rst
index 7f9627452..a4c32a41b 100644
--- a/doc/lua-api/index.rst
+++ b/doc/lua-api/index.rst
@@ -1089,6 +1089,14 @@ Core class
     perform the heavy job in a dedicated task and allow remaining events to be
     processed more quickly.
 
+.. js:function:: core.use_native_mailers_config()
+
+  **context**: body
+
+  Inform haproxy that the script will make use of the native "mailers"
+  config section (although legacy). In other words, inform haproxy that
+  :js:func:`Proxy.get_mailers()` will be used later in the program.
+
 .. _proxy_class:
 
 Proxy class
@@ -1216,8 +1224,14 @@ Proxy class
 
   **LEGACY**
 
-  Returns a table containing mailers config for the current proxy or nil
-  if mailers are not available for the proxy.
+  Returns a table containing legacy mailers config (from haproxy configuration
+  file) for the current proxy or nil if mailers are not available for the proxy.
+
+  .. warning::
+    When relying on :js:func:`Proxy.get_mailers()` to retrieve mailers
+    configuration, :js:func:`core.use_native_mailers_config()` must be called
+    first from body or init context to inform haproxy that Lua makes use of the
+    legacy mailers config.
 
   :param class_proxy px: A :ref:`proxy_class` which indicates the manipulated
    proxy.
diff --git a/examples/lua/mailers.lua b/examples/lua/mailers.lua
index b1201fffd..6f1620cad 100644
--- a/examples/lua/mailers.lua
+++ b/examples/lua/mailers.lua
@@ -364,6 +364,10 @@ local function srv_event_add(event, data)
 	mailers_track_server_events(data.reference)
 end
 
+-- tell haproxy that we do use the legacy native "mailers" config section
+-- which allows us to retrieve mailers configuration using Proxy:get_mailers()
+core.use_native_mailers_config()
+
 -- event subscriptions are purposely performed in an init function to prevent
 -- email alerts from being generated too early (when process is starting up)
 core.register_init(function()
diff --git a/include/haproxy/mailers.h b/include/haproxy/mailers.h
index 509224ac6..ea2c2d8af 100644
--- a/include/haproxy/mailers.h
+++ b/include/haproxy/mailers.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/proxy-t.h>
 #include <haproxy/server-t.h>
 
+extern int mailers_used_from_lua;
 extern struct mailers *mailers;
 
 int init_email_alert(struct mailers *mailers, struct proxy *p, char **err);
diff --git a/src/hlua.c b/src/hlua.c
index 25df95690..d4734e0af 100644
--- a/src/hlua.c
+++ b/src/hlua.c
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ static uint hlua_log_opts = HLUA_LOG_LOGGERS_ON | HLUA_LOG_STDERR_AUTO;
 
 /* set to 1 once some lua was loaded already */
 static uint8_t hlua_loaded = 0;
+/* set to 1 during body evaluation (very early lua file loading), then 0 */
+static uint8_t hlua_body = 1;
 
 #define HLUA_BOOL_SAMPLE_CONVERSION_UNK     0x0
 #define HLUA_BOOL_SAMPLE_CONVERSION_NORMAL  0x1
@@ -2384,6 +2386,20 @@ __LJMP static int hlua_core_get_var(lua_State *L)
 	return MAY_LJMP(hlua_smp2lua(L, &smp));
 }
 
+/* This function informs haproxy that native mailers config section is
+ * actually being used from Lua.
+ *
+ * It may not be used outside of body context.
+ */
+__LJMP static int hlua_use_native_mailers_config(lua_State *L)
+{
+	if (!hlua_body)
+		WILL_LJMP(luaL_error(L, "use_native_mailers_config: "
+	        "not available outside of body context"));
+	mailers_used_from_lua = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /* A class is a lot of memory that contain data. This data can be a table,
  * an integer or user data. This data is associated with a metatable. This
  * metatable have an original version registered in the global context with
@@ -13811,6 +13827,8 @@ int hlua_post_init()
 	struct hlua_function *fcn;
 	struct hlua_reg_filter *reg_flt;
 
+	hlua_body = 0;
+
 #if defined(USE_OPENSSL)
 	/* Initialize SSL server. */
 	if (socket_ssl->xprt->prepare_srv) {
@@ -14108,6 +14126,7 @@ lua_State *hlua_init_state(int thread_num)
 	hlua_class_function(L, "Warning", hlua_log_warning);
 	hlua_class_function(L, "Alert", hlua_log_alert);
 	hlua_class_function(L, "done", hlua_done);
+	hlua_class_function(L, "use_native_mailers_config", hlua_use_native_mailers_config);
 	hlua_fcn_reg_core_fcn(L);
 
 	lua_setglobal(L, "core");
diff --git a/src/mailers.c b/src/mailers.c
index 7d3fe3839..451b1e2ee 100644
--- a/src/mailers.c
+++ b/src/mailers.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/time.h>
 #include <haproxy/tools.h>
 
+int mailers_used_from_lua = 0;
 
 struct mailers *mailers = NULL;
 
@@ -48,3 +49,19 @@ void free_email_alert(struct proxy *p)
 	ha_free(&p->email_alert.to);
 	ha_free(&p->email_alert.myhostname);
 }
+
+static int mailers_post_check(void)
+{
+	struct mailers *cur;
+
+	for (cur = mailers; cur != NULL; cur = cur->next) {
+		if (cur->users && !mailers_used_from_lua) {
+			ha_warning("mailers '%s' is referenced on at least one proxy but Lua "
+			           "mailers are not configured so the setting will be ignored. "
+			           "Use 'examples/lua/mailers.lua' file for basic mailers support.\n", cur->id);
+			return ERR_WARN;
+		}
+	}
+	return ERR_NONE;
+}
+REGISTER_POST_CHECK(mailers_post_check);