diff --git a/backend/api/src/junk-drawer/private-messages.ts b/backend/api/src/junk-drawer/private-messages.ts
index 7ad5cac3..e6b190bc 100644
--- a/backend/api/src/junk-drawer/private-messages.ts
+++ b/backend/api/src/junk-drawer/private-messages.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ export const createPrivateUserMessageMain = async (
   if (!authorized)
     throw new APIError(403, 'You are not authorized to post to this channel')
 
-  await notifyOtherUserInChannelIfInactive(channelId, creator, content, pg)
   await insertPrivateMessage(content, channelId, creator.id, visibility, pg)
 
   const privateMessage = {
@@ -127,6 +126,12 @@ export const createPrivateUserMessageMain = async (
     broadcast(`private-user-messages/${otherUserId}`, {})
   })
 
+  // Fire and forget safely
+  void notifyOtherUserInChannelIfInactive(channelId, creator, content, pg)
+    .catch((err) => {
+      console.error('notifyOtherUserInChannelIfInactive failed', err)
+    });
+
   track(creator.id, 'send private message', {
     channelId,
     otherUserIds,