diff --git a/lms/templates/emails/activation_email.txt b/lms/templates/emails/activation_email.txt
index c111159e00..073e11f839 100644
--- a/lms/templates/emails/activation_email.txt
+++ b/lms/templates/emails/activation_email.txt
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ ${_("Thank you for signing up for {platform_name}! To activate "
   ${_("If you didn't request this, you don't need to do anything; you won't "
       "receive any more email from us. Please do not reply to this e-mail; "
       "if you require assistance, check the about section of the "
-      "${platform_name} Courses web site.").format(platform_name=settings.PLATFORM_NAME)}
+      "{platform_name} Courses web site.").format(platform_name=settings.PLATFORM_NAME)}
 % else:
   ${_("If you didn't request this, you don't need to do anything; you won't "
       "receive any more email from us. Please do not reply to this e-mail; "
       "if you require assistance, check the help section of the "
-      "${platform_name} web site.").format(platform_name=settings.PLATFORM_NAME)}
+      "{platform_name} web site.").format(platform_name=settings.PLATFORM_NAME)}
 % endif