diff --git a/backup/util/helper/async_helper.class.php b/backup/util/helper/async_helper.class.php
index b57c4b5eb28..9d7ed598dab 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/async_helper.class.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/async_helper.class.php
@@ -96,6 +96,21 @@ class async_helper  {
         return $user;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Return appropriate description for current async operation {@see async_helper::type}
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    private function get_operation_description(): string {
+        $operations = [
+            'backup' => new lang_string('backup'),
+            'copy' => new lang_string('copycourse'),
+            'restore' => new lang_string('restore'),
+        ];
+
+        return (string) ($operations[$this->type] ?? $this->type);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Callback for preg_replace_callback.
      * Replaces message placeholders with real values.
@@ -105,7 +120,7 @@ class async_helper  {
      */
     private function lookup_message_variables($matches) {
         $options = array(
-                'operation' => $this->type,
+                'operation' => $this->get_operation_description(),
                 'backupid' => $this->backupid,
                 'user_username' => $this->user->username,
                 'user_email' => $this->user->email,
diff --git a/backup/util/helper/tests/async_helper_test.php b/backup/util/helper/tests/async_helper_test.php
index da485ab8d9a..b076e55abf1 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/tests/async_helper_test.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/tests/async_helper_test.php
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ require_once($CFG->dirroot . '/backup/util/includes/restore_includes.php');
  * Asyncronhous helper tests.
  *
  * @package    core_backup
+ * @covers     \async_helper
  * @copyright  2018 Matt Porritt <mattp@catalyst-au.net>
  * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ class async_helper_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         set_config('backup_async_message_users', '1', 'backup');
         set_config('backup_async_message_subject', 'Moodle {operation} completed sucessfully', 'backup');
         set_config('backup_async_message',
-                'Dear {user_firstname} {user_lastname}, <br/> Your {operation} (ID: {backupid}) has completed successfully!',
+                'Dear {user_firstname} {user_lastname}, your {operation} (ID: {backupid}) has completed successfully!',
                 'backup');
         set_config('allowedemaildomains', 'example.com');
 
@@ -76,15 +77,17 @@ class async_helper_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertCount(1, $emails);
         $email = reset($emails);
 
-        $this->assertSame($USER->email, $email->from);
-        $this->assertSame($user2->email, $email->to);
-        $this->assertSame('Moodle backup completed sucessfully', $email->subject);
-        $this->assertNotEmpty($email->header);
-        $this->assertNotEmpty($email->body);
-        $this->assertMatchesRegularExpression("/$backupid/", $email->body);
-        $this->assertThat($email->body, $this->logicalNot($this->stringContains('{')));
         $this->assertGreaterThan(0, $messageid);
         $sink->clear();
+
+        $this->assertSame($USER->email, $email->from);
+        $this->assertSame($user2->email, $email->to);
+        $this->assertSame('Moodle Backup completed sucessfully', $email->subject);
+
+        // Assert body placeholders have all been replaced.
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('Dear test human, your Backup', $email->body);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString("(ID: {$backupid})", $email->body);
+        $this->assertStringNotContainsString('{', $email->body);
     }
 
     /**