diff --git a/src/stacosys/db/dao.py b/src/stacosys/db/dao.py
index 307e439..5f21ae3 100644
--- a/src/stacosys/db/dao.py
+++ b/src/stacosys/db/dao.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ def notify_comment(comment: Comment):
 
 
 def publish_comment(comment: Comment):
+    # if published before notification is received
+    if comment.notified == None:
+        db()(db().comment.id == comment.id).update(notified=datetime.now())    
     db()(db().comment.id == comment.id).update(published=datetime.now())
     db().commit()