diff --git a/internal/reddit/types.go b/internal/reddit/types.go
index 1c5614a..4a170ee 100644
--- a/internal/reddit/types.go
+++ b/internal/reddit/types.go
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ func (t *Thing) FullName() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s", t.Kind, t.ID)
 }
 
+func (t *Thing) IsDeleted() bool {
+	return t.Author == "[deleted]"
+}
+
 func NewThing(val *fastjson.Value) *Thing {
 	t := &Thing{}
 
diff --git a/internal/worker/stuck_notifications.go b/internal/worker/stuck_notifications.go
index d53fe8f..f57ae78 100644
--- a/internal/worker/stuck_notifications.go
+++ b/internal/worker/stuck_notifications.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func (snc *stuckNotificationsConsumer) Consume(delivery rmq.Delivery) {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			if thing.Author != "[deleted]" {
+			if !thing.IsDeleted() {
 				snc.logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
 					"account#username": account.NormalizedUsername(),
 					"thing#id":         account.LastMessageID,
@@ -203,9 +203,10 @@ func (snc *stuckNotificationsConsumer) Consume(delivery rmq.Delivery) {
 
 	account.LastMessageID = ""
 	for _, thing := range things.Children {
-		if lastAlertedAt > thing.CreatedAt {
+		if lastAlertedAt > thing.CreatedAt && !thing.IsDeleted() {
 			break
 		}
+
 		account.LastMessageID = thing.FullName()
 	}