diff --git a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
index 90bdd08f00..a187161272 100644
--- a/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
+++ b/synapse/config/emailconfig.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class EmailConfig(Config):
         #   enable_notifs: false
         #   smtp_host: "localhost"
         #   smtp_port: 25
-        #   notif_from: Your Friendly Matrix Home Server <noreply@example.com>
+        #   notif_from: "Your Friendly %(app)s Home Server <noreply@example.com>"
         #   app_name: Matrix
         #   template_dir: res/templates
         #   notif_template_html: notif_mail.html
diff --git a/synapse/push/mailer.py b/synapse/push/mailer.py
index 944f3b481d..c1e9057eb6 100644
--- a/synapse/push/mailer.py
+++ b/synapse/push/mailer.py
@@ -97,7 +97,14 @@ class Mailer(object):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def send_notification_mail(self, user_id, email_address, push_actions, reason):
-        raw_from = email.utils.parseaddr(self.hs.config.email_notif_from)[1]
+        try:
+            from_string = self.hs.config.email_notif_from % {
+                "app": self.app_name
+            }
+        except TypeError:
+            from_string = self.hs.config.email_notif_from
+
+        raw_from = email.utils.parseaddr(from_string)[1]
         raw_to = email.utils.parseaddr(email_address)[1]
 
         if raw_to == '':