diff --git a/dandiapi/api/mail.py b/dandiapi/api/mail.py
index 4d94dfcfb..63d5192f4 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/mail.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/mail.py
@@ -43,8 +43,17 @@ def user_greeting_name(user: User, socialaccount: SocialAccount = None) -> str:
     return social_user['username']
 
 
-def build_message(subject: str, message: str, to: list[str], html_message: str | None = None):
-    email_message = mail.EmailMultiAlternatives(subject=subject, body=message, to=to)
+def build_message(  # noqa: PLR0913
+    to: list[str],
+    subject: str,
+    message: str,
+    html_message: str | None = None,
+    cc: list[str] | None = None,
+    bcc: list[str] | None = None,
+):
+    email_message = mail.EmailMultiAlternatives(
+        subject=subject, body=message, to=to, cc=cc, bcc=bcc
+    )
     if html_message is not None:
         email_message.attach_alternative(html_message, 'text/html')
     return email_message
@@ -206,3 +215,29 @@ def send_dandiset_unembargoed_message(dandiset: Dandiset):
     messages = [build_dandiset_unembargoed_message(dandiset)]
     with mail.get_connection() as connection:
         connection.send_messages(messages)
+
+
+def build_dandiset_unembargo_failed_message(dandiset: Dandiset):
+    dandiset_context = {
+        'identifier': dandiset.identifier,
+    }
+
+    render_context = {**BASE_RENDER_CONTEXT, 'dandiset': dandiset_context}
+    html_message = render_to_string('api/mail/dandiset_unembargo_failed.html', render_context)
+    return build_message(
+        subject=f'DANDI: Unembargo failed for dandiset {dandiset.identifier}',
+        message=strip_tags(html_message),
+        html_message=html_message,
+        to=[owner.email for owner in dandiset.owners],
+        bcc=[settings.DANDI_DEV_EMAIL],
+    )
+
+
+def send_dandiset_unembargo_failed_message(dandiset: Dandiset):
+    logger.info(
+        'Sending dandiset unembargo failed message for dandiset %s to dandiset owners and devs',
+        dandiset.identifier,
+    )
+    messages = [build_dandiset_unembargo_failed_message(dandiset)]
+    with mail.get_connection() as connection:
+        connection.send_messages(messages)
diff --git a/dandiapi/api/tasks/__init__.py b/dandiapi/api/tasks/__init__.py
index 2a7fa9318..98b919604 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/tasks/__init__.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/tasks/__init__.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from celery.utils.log import get_task_logger
 
 from dandiapi.api.doi import delete_doi
+from dandiapi.api.mail import send_dandiset_unembargo_failed_message
 from dandiapi.api.manifests import (
     write_assets_jsonld,
     write_assets_yaml,
@@ -82,4 +83,10 @@ def unembargo_dandiset_task(dandiset_id: int):
     from dandiapi.api.services.embargo import unembargo_dandiset
 
     ds = Dandiset.objects.get(pk=dandiset_id)
-    unembargo_dandiset(ds)
+
+    # If the unembargo fails for any reason, send an email, but continue the error propagation
+    try:
+        unembargo_dandiset(ds)
+    except Exception:
+        send_dandiset_unembargo_failed_message(ds)
+        raise
diff --git a/dandiapi/api/templates/api/mail/dandiset_unembargo_failed.html b/dandiapi/api/templates/api/mail/dandiset_unembargo_failed.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..176a49476
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dandiapi/api/templates/api/mail/dandiset_unembargo_failed.html
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+There was an error during the unembargo of dandiset
+<a href="{{ dandiset.ui_link }}">{{dandiset.identifier }}</a>. This has been reported to the developers, and will be
+investigated as soon as possible. We hope to have this resolved soon! Please avoid making any major changes to this
+dandiset in the meantime, as that may hinder or delay the process of resolving this issue.
+<br><br><br>
+<em>You are receiving this email because you are an owner of this dandiset.</em>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_unembargo.py b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_unembargo.py
index f59d9fc59..9740ecebf 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_unembargo.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_unembargo.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 )
 from dandiapi.api.services.embargo.exceptions import DandisetActiveUploadsError
 from dandiapi.api.services.exceptions import DandiError
+from dandiapi.api.tasks import unembargo_dandiset_task
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from dandiapi.api.models.asset import AssetBlob
@@ -162,3 +163,19 @@ def test_unembargo_dandiset(
     owner_email_set = {user.email for user in owners}
     mailoutbox_to_email_set = set(mailoutbox[0].to)
     assert owner_email_set == mailoutbox_to_email_set
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db()
+def test_unembargo_dandiset_task_failure(draft_version_factory, mailoutbox):
+    # Intentionally set the status to embargoed so the task will fail
+    draft_version = draft_version_factory(dandiset__embargo_status=Dandiset.EmbargoStatus.EMBARGOED)
+    ds: Dandiset = draft_version.dandiset
+
+    with pytest.raises(DandiError):
+        unembargo_dandiset_task.delay(ds.pk)
+
+    assert mailoutbox
+    assert 'Unembargo failed' in mailoutbox[0].subject
+    payload = mailoutbox[0].message().get_payload()[0].get_payload()
+    assert ds.identifier in payload
+    assert 'error during the unembargo' in payload