diff --git a/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/model.py b/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/model.py
index cddeffa8..e3c3a7d6 100644
--- a/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/model.py
+++ b/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/model.py
@@ -168,6 +168,14 @@ def __init__(self, *, message_id: str, subject: str, subject_prefix: bool,
         self.parts: list[TemplateDescriptorPart] = []
         self.modes: list[str] = []
 
+    @property
+    def subject_template(self) -> str:
+        # trans block limits use of Jinja, if it looks like a template, then
+        # handle trans yourselves
+        if '{{' not in self.subject and '{%' not in self.subject:
+            return '{% trans %}' + self.subject + '{% endtrans %}'
+        return self.subject
+
     @staticmethod
     def load_from_file(data: dict) -> TemplateDescriptor:
         result = TemplateDescriptor(
diff --git a/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/templates.py b/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/templates.py
index d49af3f4..e2c41c7a 100644
--- a/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/templates.py
+++ b/packages/dsw-mailer/dsw/mailer/templates.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def _load_template(self, path: pathlib.Path,
         html_template = None
         plain_template = None
         subject_template = self._make_str_jinja2(
-            str_template='{% trans %}' + descriptor.subject + '{% endtrans %}',
+            str_template=descriptor.subject_template,
         )
         attachments = []
         html_images = []