=== modified file 'dhis-2/dhis-api/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/message/MessageConversation.java'
--- dhis-2/dhis-api/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/message/MessageConversation.java	2012-01-11 15:58:25 +0000
+++ dhis-2/dhis-api/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/message/MessageConversation.java	2012-01-13 18:59:01 +0000
@@ -91,30 +91,38 @@
         this.messages.add( message );
     }
 
-    public void markRead( User user )
+    public boolean markRead( User user )
     {
         for ( UserMessage userMessage : userMessages )
         {
             if ( userMessage.getUser() != null && userMessage.getUser().equals( user ) )
             {
+                boolean read = userMessage.isRead();
+                
                 userMessage.setRead( true );
 
-                return;
+                return !read;
             }
         }
+        
+        return false;
     }
 
-    public void markUnread( User user )
+    public boolean markUnread( User user )
     {
         for ( UserMessage userMessage : userMessages )
         {
             if ( userMessage.getUser() != null && userMessage.getUser().equals( user ) )
             {
+                boolean read = userMessage.isRead();
+                
                 userMessage.setRead( false );
 
-                return;
+                return read;
             }
         }
+        
+        return false;
     }
 
     public void markReplied( User sender, Message message )

=== modified file 'dhis-2/dhis-web/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/dashboard/message/action/ReadMessageAction.java'
--- dhis-2/dhis-web/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/dashboard/message/action/ReadMessageAction.java	2011-12-26 10:07:59 +0000
+++ dhis-2/dhis-web/dhis-web-dashboard-integration/src/main/java/org/hisp/dhis/dashboard/message/action/ReadMessageAction.java	2012-01-13 18:59:01 +0000
@@ -89,9 +89,10 @@
     {
         conversation = messageService.getMessageConversation( id );
         
-        conversation.markRead( currentUserService.getCurrentUser() );
-        
-        messageService.updateMessageConversation( conversation );
+        if ( conversation.markRead( currentUserService.getCurrentUser() ) )
+        {        
+            messageService.updateMessageConversation( conversation );
+        }
         
         return SUCCESS;
     }