diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/User/UserUpdater.js b/services/web/app/src/Features/User/UserUpdater.js
index 1d6cf99797..0ccdb1bd1b 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/User/UserUpdater.js
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/User/UserUpdater.js
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ async function maybeCreateRedundantSubscriptionNotification(userId, email) {
     userId
   )
   const confirmedAffiliation = affiliations.find(a => a.email === email)
-  if (confirmedAffiliation.licence === 'free') {
+  if (!confirmedAffiliation || confirmedAffiliation.licence === 'free') {
     return
   }
 
diff --git a/services/web/test/unit/src/User/UserUpdaterTests.js b/services/web/test/unit/src/User/UserUpdaterTests.js
index 5ddf2d6e7a..02686b6e2f 100644
--- a/services/web/test/unit/src/User/UserUpdaterTests.js
+++ b/services/web/test/unit/src/User/UserUpdaterTests.js
@@ -928,6 +928,18 @@ describe('UserUpdater', function () {
       )
     })
 
+    it('should not call redundantPersonalSubscription when user is not on a commons license', async function () {
+      this.InstitutionsAPI.promises.getUserAffiliations.resolves([])
+      this.SubscriptionLocator.promises.getUserIndividualSubscription.resolves({
+        planCode: 'personal',
+        groupPlan: false,
+      })
+      await this.UserUpdater.promises.confirmEmail(this.user._id, this.newEmail)
+      sinon.assert.notCalled(
+        this.NotificationsBuilder.promises.redundantPersonalSubscription
+      )
+    })
+
     describe('with institution licence and subscription', function () {
       beforeEach(async function () {
         this.affiliation = {