diff --git a/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/oncokb/web/rest/AccountResource.java b/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/oncokb/web/rest/AccountResource.java
index 13c543a7a..18a3fda94 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/oncokb/web/rest/AccountResource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/oncokb/web/rest/AccountResource.java
@@ -492,6 +492,9 @@ public void resendVerification(@RequestBody LoginVM loginVM, HttpServletRequest
         // if (rs.getStatusCode() == HttpStatus.OK) {
         Optional<User> userOptional = userService.getUserWithAuthoritiesByLogin(loginVM.getUsername());
         if (userOptional.isPresent() && passwordEncoder.matches(loginVM.getPassword(), userOptional.get().getPassword())) {
+            if (StringUtils.isEmpty(userOptional.get().getActivationKey())) {
+                userService.generateNewActivationKey(userOptional.get());
+            }
             mailService.sendActivationEmail(userMapper.userToUserDTO(userOptional.get()));
         }
         // }