diff --git a/backend/auth.py b/backend/auth.py
index 52945b0..9bf4924 100644
--- a/backend/auth.py
+++ b/backend/auth.py
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ from fastapi import Depends
 from fastapi.security import HTTPBearer, HTTPAuthorizationCredentials
 from email_service import (
     create_verification,
+    send_verification_email,
     send_password_reset_email,
     create_password_reset,
     hash_token,
-    send_verification_email,
 )
 
 import secrets
diff --git a/backend/email_service.py b/backend/email_service.py
index afe0d94..431bced 100644
--- a/backend/email_service.py
+++ b/backend/email_service.py
@@ -222,6 +222,63 @@ def verify_email(token: str):
     finally:
         conn.close()
 
+def send_verification_email(email: str, token: str):
+    smtp_host = os.getenv("SMTP_HOST")
+    smtp_port = int(os.getenv("SMTP_PORT", "587"))
+    smtp_username = os.getenv("SMTP_USERNAME")
+    smtp_password = os.getenv("SMTP_PASSWORD")
+    smtp_from = os.getenv("SMTP_FROM")
+
+    if not all([
+        smtp_host,
+        smtp_username,
+        smtp_password,
+        smtp_from,
+    ]):
+        raise RuntimeError("SMTP configuration is incomplete")
+
+    verification_url = (
+        f"https://ben.de-roo.org/api/verify-email?token={token}"
+    )
+
+    message = EmailMessage()
+
+    message["From"] = smtp_from
+    message["To"] = email
+    message["Subject"] = "Verify your Calendar email address"
+
+    message.set_content(
+        f"""Hello,
+
+You requested to use this email address for your Calendar account.
+
+Verify your email address using this link:
+
+{verification_url}
+
+This link expires after 24 hours.
+
+If you did not request this, you can ignore this email.
+"""
+    )
+
+    print(f"Sending verification email to {email}")
+
+    with smtplib.SMTP(smtp_host, smtp_port) as smtp:
+        print("SMTP connected")
+
+        smtp.starttls()
+        print("TLS started")
+
+        smtp.login(
+            smtp_username,
+            smtp_password,
+        )
+        print("SMTP login successful")
+
+        smtp.send_message(message)
+        print("Verification email sent")
+
 def send_password_reset_email(email: str, token: str):
     smtp_host = os.getenv("SMTP_HOST")
     smtp_port = int(os.getenv("SMTP_PORT", "587"))