diff --git a/backend/letters/tasks.py b/backend/letters/tasks.py
index 7c056af..a822b68 100644
--- a/backend/letters/tasks.py
+++ b/backend/letters/tasks.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def notify_unlocked_letter(letter):
         plaint_content = render_to_string("email/vault_unlock.txt", context=context)
         html_content = render_to_string("email/vault_unlock.html", context=context)
         send_mail(
-            subject,
+            subject=subject,
             message=plaint_content,
             from_email=settings.FROM_EMAIL,
             recipient_list=[author],
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def notify_unlocked_letter(letter):
         letter.notified_at = datetime.now(UTC)
         letter.save()
         logger.info(f"Successfully notified {author} of unlocked letter")
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.exception(f"Failed to notify {author} of unlocked letter", str(e))
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception(f"Failed to notify {author} of unlocked letter")
 
 
 def vault_unlock_notification_polling_scheduler():
diff --git a/backend/letters/tests.py b/backend/letters/tests.py
index 3f9f7ad..04e66d1 100644
--- a/backend/letters/tests.py
+++ b/backend/letters/tests.py
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ class LetterTaskTest(TestCase):
                 from_email=settings.FROM_EMAIL,
                 recipient_list=[self.user.email],
                 fail_silently=False,
+                html_message=ANY,
             )
             self.assertIsNotNone(letter_to_notify1.notified_at)
 
diff --git a/backend/users/utils.py b/backend/users/utils.py
index c1816ad..9251f33 100644
--- a/backend/users/utils.py
+++ b/backend/users/utils.py
@@ -21,7 +21,14 @@ def send_activation_email(user):
     }
     html_content = render_to_string("email/activation.html", context)
     plain_content = render_to_string("email/activation.txt", context)
-    send_mail(subject, plain_content, settings.FROM_EMAIL, [user.email], fail_silently=False, html_message=html_content)
+    send_mail(
+        subject=subject,
+        message=plain_content,
+        from_email=settings.FROM_EMAIL,
+        recipient_list=[user.email],
+        fail_silently=False,
+        html_message=html_content,
+    )
     return True