diff --git a/src/Repository/Notify.php b/src/Repository/Notify.php
index 5f2d9f8a7f..9552eddb9a 100644
--- a/src/Repository/Notify.php
+++ b/src/Repository/Notify.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Notify extends BaseRepository
 	/**
 	 * @param array $fields
 	 *
-	 * @return Model\Notify
+	 * @return Model\Notify|false
 	 *
 	 * @throws \Friendica\Network\HTTPException\InternalServerErrorException
 	 * @throws Exception
@@ -75,17 +75,14 @@ class Notify extends BaseRepository
 	public function insert(array $fields)
 	{
 		$fields['date']  = DateTimeFormat::utcNow();
-		$fields['abort'] = false;
 
 		Hook::callAll('enotify_store', $fields);
 
-		if ($fields['abort']) {
+		if (empty($fields)) {
 			$this->logger->debug('Abort adding notification entry', ['fields' => $fields]);
-			return null;
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		unset($fields['abort']);
-
 		$this->logger->debug('adding notification entry', ['fields' => $fields]);
 
 		return parent::insert($fields);