diff --git a/messages/main.go b/messages/main.go
index 8196593..d432a29 100644
--- a/messages/main.go
+++ b/messages/main.go
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ import (
 
 // sendEmailNotification sends an email notification to the user
 func sendEmailNotification(app *pocketbase.PocketBase, registry *template.Registry, user *models.Record, message *models.Record) {
+	// check if user and message are set and user is not the sender
+	if user == nil || message == nil || user.GetId() == message.GetString("sender") {
+		return
+	}
+
 	userEmail := user.GetString("email")
 
 	// check if user has a valid email