4 files changed, 30 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/actionmailer/CHANGELOG.md b/actionmailer/CHANGELOG.md
index 1005516f42..d4d592a964 100644
--- a/actionmailer/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/actionmailer/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
 ## Rails 3.2.10 (unreleased) ##
 
+*   The return value from mailer methods is no longer relevant. This fixes a bug,
+    which was introduced with 3.2.9.
+    Backport #8450
+    Fix #8448
+
+        class ExampleMailer < ActionMailer::Base
+          # in 3.2.9, returning a falsy value from a mailer action, prevented the email from beeing sent.
+          # With 3.2.10 the return value is no longer relevant. If you call mail() the email will be sent.
+          def nil_returning_mailer_action
+            mail()
+            nil
+          end
+        end
+
+    *Yves Senn*
+
 ## Rails 3.2.9 (Nov 12, 2012) ##
 
 *   Do not render views when mail() isn't called.
diff --git a/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb b/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
index 1aeeadcacc..9e2f640915 100644
--- a/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
+++ b/actionmailer/lib/action_mailer/base.rb
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ module ActionMailer #:nodoc:
     # method, for instance).
     def initialize(method_name=nil, *args)
       super()
+      @mail_was_called = false
       @_message = Mail.new
       process(method_name, *args) if method_name
     end
@@ -455,10 +456,8 @@ module ActionMailer #:nodoc:
     def process(*args) #:nodoc:
       lookup_context.skip_default_locale!
 
-      generated_mail = super
-      unless generated_mail
-        @_message = NullMail.new
-      end
+      super
+      @_message = NullMail.new unless @mail_was_called
     end
 
     class NullMail #:nodoc:
diff --git a/actionmailer/test/base_test.rb b/actionmailer/test/base_test.rb
index b69b26faf0..f648cb1546 100644
--- a/actionmailer/test/base_test.rb
+++ b/actionmailer/test/base_test.rb
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ class BaseTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     mail.deliver
   end
 
+  test 'the return value of mailer methods is not relevant' do
+    mail = BaseMailer.with_nil_as_return_value
+    assert_equal('Welcome', mail.body.to_s.strip)
+    mail.deliver
+  end
+
   # Before and After hooks
 
   class MyObserver
diff --git a/actionmailer/test/mailers/base_mailer.rb b/actionmailer/test/mailers/base_mailer.rb
index 8c4430b046..50438ead2a 100644
--- a/actionmailer/test/mailers/base_mailer.rb
+++ b/actionmailer/test/mailers/base_mailer.rb
@@ -118,4 +118,9 @@ class BaseMailer < ActionMailer::Base
 
   def without_mail_call
   end
+
+  def with_nil_as_return_value(hash = {})
+    mail(:template_name => "welcome")
+    nil
+  end
 end