diff --git a/dbmail/backends/mail.py b/dbmail/backends/mail.py
index afab24e..8f9ed82 100644
--- a/dbmail/backends/mail.py
+++ b/dbmail/backends/mail.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def _insert_mailer_identification_head(self):
     def _get_connection(self):
         if self._template.auth_credentials:
             return self._kwargs.pop('connection', None) or get_connection(
-                **self._template.from_email.get_auth())
+                **self._template.auth_credentials)
         return self._kwargs.pop('connection', None)
 
     def _get_template(self):