diff --git a/src/controllers/user.js b/src/controllers/user.js
index 848fcfdf31..6fd278ef39 100644
--- a/src/controllers/user.js
+++ b/src/controllers/user.js
@@ -404,7 +404,11 @@ api.inviteFriends = function(req, res, next) {
     var link = nconf.get('BASE_URL') + '?' + qs.stringify({partyInvite:{id:party._id, inviter:res.locals.user._id, name:party.name}});
     _.each(req.body, function(invite){
       if (invite.email) {
-        var variables = {link:link, inviter:res.locals.user.profile.name, invitee:invite.name};
+        var variables = [
+          {name: 'LINK', content: link},
+          {name: 'INVITER', content: res.locals.user.profile.name},
+          {name: 'INVITEE', content: invite.name}
+        ];
         // TODO implement "users can only be invited once"
         utils.txnEmail(invite, 'invite-friend', variables);
       }