diff --git a/lib/models/subscriptions.js b/lib/models/subscriptions.js
index 822a31b2..910df5d0 100644
--- a/lib/models/subscriptions.js
+++ b/lib/models/subscriptions.js
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ module.exports.insert = (listId, meta, subscription, callback) => {
                     if (statusChange) {
                         keys.push('status', 'status_change');
                         values.push(meta.status, new Date());
-                        statusDirection = !existing ? (meta.status === 1 ? '+' : '-') : (existing.status === 1 ? '-' : '+');
+                        statusDirection = !existing ? (meta.status === 1 ? '+' : false) : (existing.status === 1 ? '-' : '+');
                     }
 
                     if (!keys.length) {
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ module.exports.insert = (listId, meta, subscription, callback) => {
 
                         entryId = result.insertId || entryId;
 
-                        if (statusChange) {
+                        if (statusChange && statusDirection) {
                             connection.query('UPDATE lists SET `subscribers`=`subscribers`' + statusDirection + '1 WHERE id=?', [listId], err => {
                                 if (err) {
                                     return connection.rollback(() => {