diff --git a/PVE/API2/Replication.pm b/PVE/API2/Replication.pm
index a7e54497..645eab7d 100644
--- a/PVE/API2/Replication.pm
+++ b/PVE/API2/Replication.pm
@@ -70,23 +70,24 @@ sub run_single_job {
     die $@ if $@;
 }
 
+
+my sub _should_mail_at_failcount {
+    my ($fail_count) = @_;
+
+    return 1 if $fail_count <= 3; # always send the first few for better visibility of the issue
+
+    # failing job is re-tried every half hour, try to send one mail after 1, 2, 4, 8, etc. days
+    my $i = 1;
+    while ($i * 48 < $fail_count) {
+	$i = $i * 2;
+    }
+    return $i * 48 == $fail_count;
+};
+
 # passing $now and $verbose is useful for regression testing
 sub run_jobs {
     my ($now, $logfunc, $verbose, $mail) = @_;
 
-    my $mail_at_fail_count = sub {
-	my ($fail_count) = @_;
-
-	return 1 if $fail_count == 1;
-
-	# failing job is re-tried every half hour, try to send one mail after 1, 2, 4, 8, etc. days
-	my $i = 1;
-	while ($i * 48 < $fail_count) {
-	    $i = $i * 2;
-	}
-	return $i * 48 == $fail_count;
-    };
-
     my $iteration = $now // time();
 
     my $code = sub {
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ sub run_jobs {
 		my $jobstate = PVE::ReplicationState::extract_job_state($state, $jobcfg);
 		eval {
 		    PVE::Tools::sendmail('root', "Replication Job: $jobcfg->{id} failed", $err)
-			if $mail && $mail_at_fail_count->($jobstate->{fail_count});
+			if $mail && _should_mail_at_failcount($jobstate->{fail_count});
 		};
 		warn ": $@" if $@;
 	    }