diff --git a/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py b/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
index 12cb26c059..63efe438d3 100644
--- a/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
+++ b/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ class EmailBackend(BaseEmailBackend):
         self.port = port or settings.EMAIL_PORT
         self.username = username or settings.EMAIL_HOST_USER
         self.password = password or settings.EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD
-        self.use_tls = (use_tls is not None) and use_tls or settings.EMAIL_USE_TLS
+        if use_tls is None:
+            self.use_tls = settings.EMAIL_USE_TLS
+        else:
+            self.use_tls = use_tls
         self.connection = None
         self._lock = threading.RLock()