diff --git a/config/config.sample.php b/config/config.sample.php
index 68f27ed032..5c6ca58a64 100644
--- a/config/config.sample.php
+++ b/config/config.sample.php
@@ -328,24 +328,19 @@ $CONFIG = array(
 'mail_smtpdebug' => false,
 
 /**
- * Which mode to use for sending mail: ``sendmail``, ``smtp``, ``qmail`` or
- * ``php``.
+ * Which mode to use for sending mail: ``sendmail``, ``smtp`` or ``qmail``.
  *
  * If you are using local or remote SMTP, set this to ``smtp``.
  *
- * If you are using PHP mail you must have an installed and working email system
- * on the server. The program used to send email is defined in the ``php.ini``
- * file.
- *
  * For the ``sendmail`` option you need an installed and working email system on
  * the server, with ``/usr/sbin/sendmail`` installed on your Unix system.
  *
  * For ``qmail`` the binary is /var/qmail/bin/sendmail, and it must be installed
  * on your Unix system.
  *
- * Defaults to ``php``
+ * Defaults to ``smtp``
  */
-'mail_smtpmode' => 'php',
+'mail_smtpmode' => 'smtp',
 
 /**
  * This depends on ``mail_smtpmode``. Specify the IP address of your mail
diff --git a/lib/private/Settings/Admin/Mail.php b/lib/private/Settings/Admin/Mail.php
index 74a94a4c7a..fc20b7eeb3 100644
--- a/lib/private/Settings/Admin/Mail.php
+++ b/lib/private/Settings/Admin/Mail.php
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ class Mail implements ISettings {
 			$parameters['mail_smtppassword'] = '********';
 		}
 
+		if ($parameters['mail_smtpmode'] === '' || $parameters['mail_smtpmode'] === 'php') {
+			$parameters['mail_smtpmode'] = 'smtp';
+		}
+
 		return new TemplateResponse('settings', 'settings/admin/additional-mail', $parameters, '');
 	}
 
diff --git a/settings/templates/settings/admin/additional-mail.php b/settings/templates/settings/admin/additional-mail.php
index adcc5293ff..1e0b458f60 100644
--- a/settings/templates/settings/admin/additional-mail.php
+++ b/settings/templates/settings/admin/additional-mail.php
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ $mail_smtpsecure = [
 ];
 
 $mail_smtpmode = [
-	['php', 'PHP'],
 	['smtp', 'SMTP'],
 ];
 if ($_['sendmail_is_available']) {