diff --git a/pm_email_notify/pm_email_notify.module b/pm_email_notify/pm_email_notify.module
index b7a58fb..d00a5d5 100644
--- a/pm_email_notify/pm_email_notify.module
+++ b/pm_email_notify/pm_email_notify.module
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function pm_email_notify_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id) {
  * Implements hook_user_update().
  */
 function pm_email_notify_user_update($account) {
-  if (privatemsg_user_access('read privatemsg', $account)) {
+  if (privatemsg_user_access('read privatemsg', $account) && isset($account->pm_send_notifications)) {
     db_merge('pm_email_notify')
       ->fields(array('email_notify_is_enabled' => $account->pm_send_notifications))
       ->key(array('user_id' => $account->uid))