diff --git a/src/openforms/conf/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/django.po b/src/openforms/conf/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
index 812734be05..a1a8693dc8 100644
--- a/src/openforms/conf/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+++ b/src/openforms/conf/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
@@ -6917,11 +6917,11 @@ msgstr "E-mailonderwerp"
 #: openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py:45
 msgid ""
 "Subject of the email sent to the registration backend. You can use the "
-"expressions '{{ form_name }}' and '{{ submission_reference }}' to include "
+"expressions '{{ form_name }}' and '{{ public_reference }}' to include "
 "the form name and the reference number to the submission in the subject."
 msgstr ""
 "Onderwerp van de registratiemail die verstuurd wordt. Je kan de "
-"uitdrukkingen '{{ form_name }}' en '{{ submission_reference }}' gebruiken om "
+"uitdrukkingen '{{ form_name }}' en '{{ public_reference }}' gebruiken om "
 "formuliernaam en registratienummer op te nemen."
 
 #: openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py:55
diff --git a/src/openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py b/src/openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py
index 037610c9e4..e77cd9a04e 100644
--- a/src/openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py
+++ b/src/openforms/registrations/contrib/email/config.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class EmailOptionsSerializer(JsonSchemaSerializerMixin, serializers.Serializer):
         label=_("email subject"),
         help_text=_(
             "Subject of the email sent to the registration backend. You can use the expressions "
-            "'{{ form_name }}' and '{{ submission_reference }}' to include the form name and the reference "
+            "'{{ form_name }}' and '{{ public_reference }}' to include the form name and the reference "
             "number to the submission in the subject."
         ),
         required=False,