diff --git a/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/models/ir_config_parameter.py b/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/models/ir_config_parameter.py
index 506a0ed..21bf67f 100644
--- a/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/models/ir_config_parameter.py
+++ b/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/models/ir_config_parameter.py
@@ -39,8 +39,18 @@ class IrConfigParameter(models.Model):
                 # should we have preloaded values in database at,
                 # server startup, modules loading their parameters
                 # from data files would break on unique key error.
-                self.sudo().set_param(key, cvalue)
-                value = cvalue
+                if not self.env.context.get("_from_get_param", 0):
+                    # the check is to avoid recursion, for instance the mail
+                    # addon has an override in ir.config_parameter::write which
+                    # calls get_param if we are setting mail.catchall.alias and
+                    # this will cause an infinite recursion. We cut that
+                    # recursion by using the context check.
+                    #
+                    # The mail addon call to get_param expects to get the value
+                    # *before* the change, so we have to return the database
+                    # value in that case
+                    self.sudo().with_context(_from_get_param=1).set_param(key, cvalue)
+                    value = cvalue
         if value is None:
             return default
         return value
diff --git a/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/tests/test_server_environment_ircp.py b/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/tests/test_server_environment_ircp.py
index ba5bb1b..b8e9485 100644
--- a/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/tests/test_server_environment_ircp.py
+++ b/server_environment_ir_config_parameter/tests/test_server_environment_ircp.py
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ class TestEnv(ServerEnvironmentCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self.ICP = self.env["ir.config_parameter"]
-        self.env_config = (
-            "[ir.config_parameter]\n" "ircp_from_config=config_value\n" "ircp_empty=\n"
-        )
+        self.env_config = """[ir.config_parameter]
+ircp_from_config=config_value
+ircp_empty=
+mail.catchall.alias=my_alias"""
 
     def _load_xml(self, module, filepath):
         convert_file(
@@ -102,3 +103,16 @@ class TestEnv(ServerEnvironmentCase):
             )
             value = self.ICP.get_param("ircp_from_config")
             self.assertEqual(value, "config_value")
+
+    def test_read_mail_catchall_alias(self):
+        """read mail.catchall.alias from server env:
+
+        this must not break the mail addon's overload"""
+        with self.load_config(
+            public=self.env_config, serv_config_class=ir_config_parameter
+        ):
+            value = self.ICP.get_param("mail.catchall.alias")
+            self.assertEqual(value, "my_alias")
+            res = self.ICP.search([("key", "=", "mail.catchall.alias")])
+            self.assertEqual(len(res), 1)
+            self.assertEqual(res.value, "my_alias")