diff --git a/CHANGELOG-v3.md b/CHANGELOG-v3.md
index ed7772c4cd5..8b22d1e1085 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG-v3.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG-v3.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 - Fixed an error that occurred if a Quick Post widget contained a Matrix field that had Min Blocks set and only had one block type.
 - Fixed a bug where the Plugin Store was not working properly with Internet Explorer.
 - Fixed a bug where disabled Matrix blocks were getting validated as live. ([#3354](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/issues/3354))
+- Fixed a bug where the `EVENT_AFTER_ACTIVATE_USER` event wasn’t getting triggered on user registration when email verification isn’t required. ([craftcms/commerce-digital-products#18](https://github.com/craftcms/commerce-digital-products/issues/18))
 
 ### Security
 - The `svg()` Twig function no longer sanitizes SVGs or namespaces their IDs or class names by default when a file path (or alias) was passed in. ([#3337](https://github.com/craftcms/cms/issues/3337))
diff --git a/src/controllers/UsersController.php b/src/controllers/UsersController.php
index 173a9225124..472d7b3a301 100644
--- a/src/controllers/UsersController.php
+++ b/src/controllers/UsersController.php
@@ -995,9 +995,9 @@ public function actionSaveUser()
         $user->firstName = $request->getBodyParam('firstName', $user->firstName);
         $user->lastName = $request->getBodyParam('lastName', $user->lastName);
 
-        // If email verification is required, then new users will be saved in a pending state,
+        // New users should always be initially saved in a pending state,
         // even if an admin is doing this and opted to not send the verification email
-        if ($isNewUser && $requireEmailVerification) {
+        if ($isNewUser) {
             $user->pending = true;
         }
 
@@ -1062,6 +1062,12 @@ public function actionSaveUser()
             return null;
         }
 
+        // If this is a new user and email verification isn't required,
+        // go ahead and activate them now.
+        if ($isNewUser && !$requireEmailVerification) {
+            Craft::$app->getUsers()->activateUser($user);
+        }
+
         // Save their preferences too
         $preferences = [
             'language' => $request->getBodyParam('preferredLanguage', $user->getPreference('language')),