diff --git a/djrill/mail/backends/djrill.py b/djrill/mail/backends/djrill.py
index 0828b37..7998ac4 100644
--- a/djrill/mail/backends/djrill.py
+++ b/djrill/mail/backends/djrill.py
@@ -76,9 +76,8 @@ class DjrillBackend(BaseEmailBackend):
         if hasattr(message, 'template_name'):
             api_url = self.api_send_template
             api_params['template_name'] = message.template_name
-            if hasattr(message, 'template_content'):
-                api_params['template_content'] = \
-                    self._expand_merge_vars(message.template_content)
+            api_params['template_content'] = \
+                self._expand_merge_vars(getattr(message, 'template_content', {}))
 
         response = requests.post(api_url, data=json.dumps(api_params))
 
diff --git a/djrill/tests/test_mandrill_send_template.py b/djrill/tests/test_mandrill_send_template.py
index 51d0190..ed987b9 100644
--- a/djrill/tests/test_mandrill_send_template.py
+++ b/djrill/tests/test_mandrill_send_template.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class DjrillMandrillSendTemplateTests(DjrillBackendMockAPITestCase):
         self.assert_mandrill_called("/messages/send-template.json")
         data = self.get_api_call_data()
         self.assertEqual(data['template_name'], "WELCOME_MESSAGE")
-        self.assertFalse('template_content' in data)
+        self.assertEqual(data['template_content'], [])  # Mandrill requires this field
 
     def test_non_template_send(self):
         # Make sure the non-template case still uses /messages/send.json