diff --git a/packages/nylas-sync/imap/fetch-messages-in-category.js b/packages/nylas-sync/imap/fetch-messages-in-category.js
index ce8aa540d..7a8b90b0d 100644
--- a/packages/nylas-sync/imap/fetch-messages-in-category.js
+++ b/packages/nylas-sync/imap/fetch-messages-in-category.js
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ class FetchMessagesInFolder {
 
     Message.find({where: {hash}})
     .then((existing) => {
-      created = existing != null;
+      created = !existing;
       return existing ? existing.update(values) : Message.create(values);
     })
     .then((message) =>