diff --git a/backend/api/controllers/leaderboards.ts b/backend/api/controllers/leaderboards.ts
index c8bc20370..f9b325d61 100644
--- a/backend/api/controllers/leaderboards.ts
+++ b/backend/api/controllers/leaderboards.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ class LeaderboardsController {
     const { uid } = req.ctx.decodedToken;
 
     const data = await LeaderboardsDAO.getRank(mode, mode2, language, uid);
+    if (data === false) {
+      return new MonkeyResponse(
+        "Leaderboard is currently updating. Please try again in a few seconds.",
+        null,
+        503
+      );
+    }
 
     return new MonkeyResponse("Rank retrieved", data);
   }
diff --git a/backend/dao/leaderboards.js b/backend/dao/leaderboards.js
index e8d00b6a5..20db6a88b 100644
--- a/backend/dao/leaderboards.js
+++ b/backend/dao/leaderboards.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class LeaderboardsDAO {
   }
 
   static async getRank(mode, mode2, language, uid) {
+    if (leaderboardUpdating[`${language}_${mode}_${mode2}`]) return false;
     const res = await db
       .collection(`leaderboards.${language}.${mode}.${mode2}`)
       .findOne({ uid });