diff --git a/changelog.d/19585.misc b/changelog.d/19585.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..621cf782f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/19585.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Prevent sending registration emails if registration is disabled.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
index fdd2f1985a..73832ba7a8 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.server_name = hs.hostname
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
         self.config = hs.config
+        self._registration_enabled = hs.config.registration.enable_registration
 
         if self.hs.config.email.can_verify_email:
             self.registration_mailer = Mailer(
@@ -109,6 +110,14 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Email-based registration has been disabled on this server"
             )
+
+        if not self._registration_enabled:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                403,
+                "Registration is disabled on this homeserver",
+                Codes.FORBIDDEN,
+            )
+
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
         assert_params_in_dict(body, ["client_secret", "email", "send_attempt"])
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/test_register.py b/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
index 2c0396a3de..f66c56a6b1 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/test_register.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import datetime
 import importlib.resources as importlib_resources
 import os
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, cast
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
 
 from twisted.internet.testing import MemoryReactor
@@ -66,6 +66,17 @@ class RegisterRestServletTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         hs.get_send_email_handler()._sendmail = AsyncMock()
         return hs
 
+    def _get_sendmail_mock(self) -> AsyncMock:
+        """
+        Cast the homeserver's `_sendmail` object as an `AsyncMock`.
+
+        `_sendmail` is an `AsyncMock` (see `make_homeserver`) but this type
+        information doesn't make it through the test harness. Thus we need to
+        cast the object again.
+        """
+        sendmail = self.hs.get_send_email_handler()._sendmail
+        return cast(AsyncMock, sendmail)
+
     def test_POST_appservice_registration_valid(self) -> None:
         user_id = "@as_user_kermit:test"
         as_token = "i_am_an_app_service"
@@ -747,6 +758,33 @@ class RegisterRestServletTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
 
         self.assertIsNotNone(channel.json_body.get("sid"))
 
+    @unittest.override_config(
+        {
+            "public_baseurl": "https://test_server",
+            "email": {
+                "smtp_host": "mail_server",
+                "smtp_port": 2525,
+                "notif_from": "sender@host",
+            },
+        }
+    )
+    def test_request_token_allowed_when_email_flow_is_advertised(self) -> None:
+        sendmail = self._get_sendmail_mock()
+        sendmail.reset_mock()
+
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "POST",
+            b"register/email/requestToken",
+            {
+                "client_secret": "foobar",
+                "email": "test@example.com",
+                "send_attempt": 1,
+            },
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(200, channel.code, channel.result)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(channel.json_body.get("sid"))
+        sendmail.assert_awaited_once()
+
     @unittest.override_config(
         {
             "public_baseurl": "https://test_server",