diff --git a/app/controllers/account_controller.rb b/app/controllers/account_controller.rb
index 749fc8f64..77a374233 100644
--- a/app/controllers/account_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/account_controller.rb
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ class AccountController < ApplicationController
         user = User.find_by_mail(email)
         # user not found
         unless user
-          flash.now[:error] = l(:notice_account_unknown_email)
+          # an error that indicates the email is invalid should not be
+          # displayed to prevent email harvesting
+          flash[:notice] = l(:notice_account_lost_email_sent)
           return
         end
         unless user.active?
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index 74067d42c..3e68f22b9 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ en:
   notice_account_password_updated: Password was successfully updated.
   notice_account_wrong_password: Wrong password
   notice_account_register_done: Account was successfully created. An email containing the instructions to activate your account was sent to %{email}.
-  notice_account_unknown_email: Unknown user.
   notice_account_not_activated_yet: You haven't activated your account yet. If you want to receive a new activation email, please <a href="%{url}">click this link</a>.
   notice_account_locked: Your account is locked.
   notice_can_t_change_password: This account uses an external authentication source. Impossible to change the password.