diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2fcb5b2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# https://github.com/github/linguist#overrides
+static/* linguist-vendored
+docs/* linguist-documentation
diff --git a/email_handler.py b/email_handler.py
index ffa819f3..bf8cfcc0 100644
--- a/email_handler.py
+++ b/email_handler.py
@@ -499,7 +499,8 @@ def handle_reply(envelope, smtp: SMTP, msg: Message, rcpt_to: str) -> (bool, str
     if ENFORCE_SPF and mailbox.force_spf:
         ip = msg[_IP_HEADER]
         if not spf_pass(ip, envelope, mailbox, user, alias, contact.website_email, msg):
-            return False, "451 SL E11"
+            # cannot use 4** here as sender will retry. 5** because that generates bounce report
+            return True, "250 SL E11"
 
     delete_header(msg, _IP_HEADER)