diff --git a/files/helpers/alerts.py b/files/helpers/alerts.py
index 2ffbbd948..0b810f717 100644
--- a/files/helpers/alerts.py
+++ b/files/helpers/alerts.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def send_notification(uid, text, autojanny=False):
 	else: author_id = NOTIFICATIONS_ID
 
 	existing = g.db.query(Comment.id).filter(Comment.author_id == author_id, Comment.body_html == text_html, Comment.notifiedto == uid).first()
-	if existing: return
+	if existing: abort(403)
 
 	new_comment = Comment(author_id=author_id,
 							parent_submission=None,