diff --git a/datahub/interaction/email_processors/parsers.py b/datahub/interaction/email_processors/parsers.py
index 1d66a58db..7a4e8e1da 100644
--- a/datahub/interaction/email_processors/parsers.py
+++ b/datahub/interaction/email_processors/parsers.py
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ def _extract_and_validate_contacts(self, all_recipients):
         return contacts
 
     def _extract_and_validate_sender_adviser(self):
-        # .from_ may come as [] or [('', '')] when missing.
-        if not any(from_[0] or from_[1] for from_ in self.message.from_):
+        if not self.message.from_ or self.message.from_ == [('', '')]:
             raise MalformedEmailError('Email was malformed - missing "from" header.')
         sender_email = self.message.from_[0][1]
         if not was_email_sent_by_dit(self.message):