diff --git a/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py b/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
index 9a9d0a9e2d..0c5b6efa2d 100644
--- a/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
+++ b/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
@@ -20,9 +20,12 @@ class CustomEmailBackend(EmailBackend):
     sender_parameter = "sender"
 
     def format_body(self, body):
-        body_actual = smart_text("{} #{} had status {} on Ansible Tower, view details at {}\n\n".format(body['friendly_name'],
-                                                                                                        body['id'],
-                                                                                                        body['status'],
-                                                                                                        body['url']))
-        body_actual += pprint.pformat(body, indent=4)
+        if "body" in body:
+            body_actual = body['body']
+        else:
+            body_actual = smart_text("{} #{} had status {} on Ansible Tower, view details at {}\n\n".format(body['friendly_name'],
+                                                                                                            body['id'],
+                                                                                                            body['status'],
+                                                                                                            body['url']))
+            body_actual += pprint.pformat(body, indent=4)
         return body_actual